It’s time for the Toronto Raptors to sell high on Norman Powell

The Toronto Raptors’ recent resurgence is related to a lot of different factors. It is safe to assume that a transition to Tampa Bay this season wasn’t an easy move for many parties involved and a slow start was understandable. Nick Nurse and the coaching staff have also coached this team back into competitiveness, and Norman Powell has been a major reason for their resurgence.

After early season struggles, Powell has been one of (if not the best) Raptors players since entering the starting lineup. This guy played so well that he forced Nurse’s hand when it came to starting to run the small ball lineup.

Since Toronto’s January 22 win against the Miami Heat, Powell is averaging 23.1 points per game while nailing 53% of his shots and 45.5% of his 6.7 3-point attempts per contest.

Having a career year, Norm is currently a big part of every Toronto Raptors win. With a player option upcoming for this offseason though, it is almost a certainty that he will opt-out. What do the Raptors do with the breakout guard?

Why the Toronto Raptors should trade Norman Powell

Odd man out

If the Raptors decide to go all-in for a playoff run this season, they’re going to have to make a big move in order to get a game changing player in return. Ideally the Raptors would be able to trade for a center, spelling an end to their small ball lineup. In that case, one of the guards would have to be sent to the bench and the odd man out would seem to be Powell.

Powell’s talents would be wasted as a Sixth Man type and with the early struggles he underwent coning off the bench, and it could be a risk to put him back in that role.

Trade value

The way Powell has been playing lately will have a lot of title contenders interested in his talents if he was made available. An athletic guard who can put up well over 20 points a night while playing solid defence would no doubt start a bidding war and could bring back some major assets for the Toronto Raptors.

It isn’t a stretch to say that Powell could bring back first round pick(s), young promising players and/or even a solid starter in any potential deal, even with his impending free agency.

Re-signing the player

Powell is playing his way to a major pay raise this offseason when he undoubtedly will decline his player option for the upcoming season. With the Raptors having some big contracts already tied up in their young core of Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet, it may be tough for them to dish out a substantial deal to a player who could’t answer any of their burning roster needs.

With VanVleet getting a 4-year, $85 million contract this past offseason, it isn’t unreasonable to assume that Powell’s contract will be in that ballpark at a lower amount. Norm has immediate  leverage and may not be willing to take a discount after years of underpayment. The California kid and UCLA alum could head home or to a young rebuilding team.

It would definitely hurt to lose The Storm for nothing.

Trading Norman Powell is the best move for the Raptors

Whether the Raptors decide to go all-in or sell off expiring assets, trading Powell is a great way to bring in the big name reinforcements for a title run or garner long-term assets to add to the current youth movement.

It is tough to see a scenario where they can bring him back while answering some of their most pressing needs this offseason. As we saw with the Kawhi Leonard trade, sometimes a sacrificial lamb is needed in order to build that winning roster, even if Norm isn’t DeMar DeRozan.

The Toronto Raptors should trade the breakout guard before he cools off or walks away.