The Toronto Raptors went into the trade deadline with the intention of selling, and they did just that by sending Norman Powell on his way after the former second-round pick evolved into a star this season.
Powell has averaged 19.6 points per game this season while shooting 50% from the field and 44% from 3-point range. Unfortunately, Toronto’s losing streak pushed them into seller territory, and that got teams like the Portland Trail Blazers interested in a player that can light up the scoreboard like Powell.
Portland needs a third scorer that can come in and take some of the pressure off of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. They found it in Powell, as the former UCLA star’s time in Toronto has come to an end via trade.
Per Adrian Wojnarowski, Powell has been traded to the Blazers in exchange for promising young guard Gary Trent Jr. and veteran forward Rodney Hood. Trent is a restricted free agent, giving the Raptors the power to match his contract, while Hood’s contract is not guaranteed for next season.
Toronto has traded Norm Powell to Portland for Gary Trent and Rodney Hood, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
Norman Powell trade: Will Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood work for the Toronto Raptors?
Trent, a former second-round pick out of Duke and the son of a former NBA player, is having a career year this year, averaging 15.0 points per game on 41% shooting overall and 40% from the 3-point line.
Trent has a very similar playing style to Powell given how he loves to shoot from deep, and he is just 22 years old. If he sticks around, Trent could be a high-upside guard who thrives in head coach Nick Nurse’s system in much the same way Powell does.
Hood, another former Blue Devil who became known for his runs with the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers in the last half-decade, was averaging 11.0 points per game on 50% shooting last year before a crippling injury sidelined him.
While Hood is averaging just 4.7 points per game this year on 36% shooting, if the Raptors are able to get him back to the level he was at in Portland and Utah before his injury, he could be a steal given his offensive skills.
Powell came to the Raptors as a second-round pick and left as one of the best shooters in the game. The success of this deal will be determined in the offseason, as Powell and Trent could both leave their respective teams. If the Raptors bring back Trent, they could manage to come out on top.