In a recent edition of Bleacher Report's Insider Notebook, Jake Fischer dropped an interesting nugget about former Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell’s future with the Chicago Bulls.
If you need a quick refresher as to what Powell’s been up to recently, I got you. After his first All-Star season at the age of 32 with the Heat last season, Powell left for Chicago, signing a two-year, $44.1 million deal with a team option for the second season with the Bulls. This was the largest annual payday of his career, but it also put him on a tradeable contract that contenders could pursue at the deadline. According to Jake Fischer, it sounds like that’s exactly what’s in store for Powell as we approach trade season.
Fischer reported that he expects Powell to receive a ton of interest on the trade market, because of his resume as a scorer, consistent near-40 percent three-point shooter, and the veteran presence he can provide. So what does this mean for the Toronto Raptors? Well, in my opinion, it wouldn’t shock me if Powell was a name Bobby Webster was circling as a potential trade target this season.
Norman Powell's Raptors reunion makes sense, but only if he’s not coming alone
Powell fits the mold for the type of guard you want running an offense around Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes. He moves well without the ball, is always ready to shoot, can create his own shot if needed, and is a reliable scorer from three-point range. While the efficiency hasn’t been there this season for Powell, who’s shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 34 percent from three, he is also probably at the top of every opposing team's scouting report when they play the Bulls.
The downside to Powell has never been the offense. It’s always been the defense. As a 6-foot-3 off guard, Powell is often outmatched size-wise, and especially with the scoring load we’ve seen him take on with both Miami, the Los Angeles Clippers, and now the Bulls, it’s only declined further.
Assuming a deal was presented to send Powell to Toronto, the Bulls would likely want to maintain future cap flexibility, so RJ Barrett would probably be the player going out the door. On top of that, Toronto would probably need some form of draft capital to make a deal happen, and I’m not sure the trade-off from Powell to Barrett is worth giving up future assets for. Don’t get me wrong, I love the offensive fit of Powell on this team, and he already has pre-built chemistry with Leonard from LA and that 2019 championship run.
But I like the defensive ceiling Barrett could have in a playoff series way better as a 6-foot-7 wing than I do Powell in a backcourt with Immanuel Quickley. The avenue that could have me interested in a Powell-for-Barrett swap is if the Bulls were willing to include Jalen Smith as a sweetener.
“Stix” is becoming one of the league's most underrated players as a stretch big who is a capable rebounder and plays with a good motor. On a struggling Bulls team, he currently leads them in net rating and feels like a player who deserves a shot at playing in a winning context. He would also give Darko Rajakovic another big to add to his rotation who can bring floor spacing they don’t currently have.
Trading for Norman Powell could be a real risk for Bobby Webster and company, especially if it came at the expense of RJ Barrett. However, with Jake Fischer’s reporting, it does seem like it could be a real option later into the season, and if the Bulls are willing to send Jalen Smith packing with Powell, Webster would be crazy not to consider it.
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