Norman Powell to Blazers for GTJ

[BlazersRizing]

@wojespn
Toronto has traded Norm Powell to Portland for Gary Trent and Rodney Hood, sources tell ESPN.

Powell is a sniper from 3. sucks to see Gary go but it makes sense

[JasonStern]

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[Soulyss]

Awful for Portland... Trent for a Rental. Blazers won't retain him after this season.

[Norm2953]

It only makes sense if Portland is finally ready to move on from CJ in the off season.

[HoopsFanAZ]

Portland gets the better player and saves $$$.
Trent's RFA would have been up there. Powell will opt out and Blazers with Bird rights will be fine.
Olshey actually took more RISK on a better player in a classic Olshey move. Nice job.

Still wanted Gordon. I'm sure there will be rumors about him next season. Get healthy, Blazers.

[mojomarc]

It only makes sense if Portland is finally ready to move on from CJ in the off season.

Or they were anticipating that GTJ would be getting an Crabbe-level offer from someone that Portland wouldn't be able to match. But it is a good point--is a Lillard-Powell backcourt that much worse offensively than Lillard-CJ? Probably not, especially since this means less possesions where CJ is initiating the offense. And CJ for a serious 3&D wing and some backup center depth given Collins' brittleness would make for a great lineup next year as well.

[wco81]

I was kind of scratching my head on this trade. Powell has proven more in big games and he seems to take it to the hole more than Trent.
Seems like kind of a wash, unless they really feared having to pay GTJ like $20 million a year or more.

Powell may look for something like that as well, since he was scoring almost 20 PPG at very good efficiency.

If they keep him, it's 3 great shooting guards but they're all 6-3 or under. Blazers become even more guard-centric than they've been in the past.

Do the Blazers get Powell's Bird rights? Or would they have had cap space to sign him as a free agent this summer if they really wanted him?

GTJ at 22 may have greater ceiling so if they're going to spend on a big contract this season, it seems he could make more sense, maybe even be able to play the 3 or at least switch to wings.

[WuTang_OG]

Treat him well. Awesome character, great player. He was our home grown who developed in our system. Really stepped up last season and this one.

[Roy The Natural]

Treat him well. Awesome character, great player. He was our home grown who developed in our system. Really stepped up last season and this one.

Don't worry. We're just a pitstop, he'll end up somewhere better.

[RoyceDa59]

You will love Powell. Dude steps up in big moments and is really an underrated well rounded star winger in his prime.

He will d up for you in the playoffs and hit big shots.

I’ll be cheering for Portland to come out of the west watching our home grown boy flourish. Good luck this year gents with LAL injuries, the west is kinda wide open.

[DusterBuster]

Powell is definitely better than GTj and I'm guessing Portland probably didn't want to risk another Allen Crabbe situation where they have to match an insane contract for Gary, but... would have been nice to get more than a rental back. I guess at the end of the day, it's rentals for a rental. He'll improve the Blazers overall I think for the end of the year, but yeah... would have at least liked a FRP if we were trading Trent.

[Oakvillehoops]

Powell is a great dude. Never about himself, does what it takes to win. The bigger the game gets, the better he plays. He will be dearly missed in Toronto. business side of this sport sucks

[The Sebastian Express]

It's annoying to see the package that got Aaron Gordon and then to see who was acquired with Gary, which is no offense meant to Powell. It's just frustrating. Very frustrating.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Treat him well. Awesome character, great player. He was our home grown who developed in our system. Really stepped up last season and this one.

Haha we could say the exact same things about Gary. Really good guy, brings a ton of energy and positivity, plays his butt off and really stepped up in the bubble and with CJ down. Bright things ahead for him.


Unfortunately, I think the reason we traded Gary is that we know we cannot afford him, meaning we probably cant afford Powell either, so its looking like we went out and got a better player to rent for the end of the season. Here's to hoping Powell really gives us a dangerous bench that can help us go deep in the playoffs and Norm earns himself a fat payday.

[BlazersRizing]

It's annoying to see the package that got Aaron Gordon and then to see who was acquired with Gary, which is no offense meant to Powell. It's just frustrating. Very frustrating.

eh. the Magic GM just made terrible moves all day.

[Norm2953]

It's annoying to see the package that got Aaron Gordon and then to see who was acquired with Gary, which is no offense meant to Powell. It's just frustrating. Very frustrating.

eh. the Magic GM just made terrible moves all day.

There are reasons why franchises are there where they are at

[red_power]

I can't see much of an upgrade here, even though Norm supposed to be a better scorer off the bench.
It kind of trade made for sake of making a trade.

Still, Trent's heading restricted free agency this summer, and Olshey was definitely not willing to cash out a guy caved behind Dame-CJ, so Blazers didn't lose much here anyway.
This is maybe not a great deal, but not Afflalo's level bad deal either.

[Blazinaway]

Powell measured 6'3" barefoot at combine with a 6'11" wingspan and is solid at 215lbs - also has played 40% of time at SF - he may start a lot of games at SF

[C_Money]

He’s f***ing good. You guys won the trade.

[soobias]

lets hope powell can keep his efficiency up in this system with the lack of touches he will get lol, im rooting for him like i was rooting for GTJ, but i fear as long as CJ is on the team most of the shots will come from dame,cj, melo