Norman Powell to Blazers for GTJ

BlazersBroncos · Post #201 » by **BlazersBroncos** » Thu May 13, 2021 6:39 pm

GTJ is way more clutch and has a killer mentality, Norm was the difference in April losing all those close games because he lacks the mentality of GTJ. This was a mistake and we’ll see this in the PO’s.

Except every TOR fan will tell you that Norm has a long history of stepping up in the PO's. This is one of the weaker takes on the swap.

Case2012 · Post #202 » by **Case2012** » Fri May 14, 2021 4:54 am

Yeah he was real clutch tonight

Post #203 » by **DaVoiceMaster** » Sat May 15, 2021 3:11 am

Trent J has a killer mentality?

GEE · Post #204 » by **GEE** » Sun May 16, 2021 3:35 am

GTJ showed me some rabid dog-like defense in the past, never backing down to anyone, while also getting hot at times with his shooting. Powell seems to be more versatile, more polished and just smarter on the offense side, but hasn't showed me he is any better than Gary at the defensive end.

Just not convinced that Powell is some kind of big upgrade that most suggest. I feel it was a trade that Dame made happen, by his open complaining (at the time) about Oshey's needing to go all in for a big playoff run now. I also believe there may have been some concerns over CJ's future with the team, that helped push GTJ out.

Post #205 » by **DaVoiceMaster** » Tue May 18, 2021 3:44 pm

Powell helps this team more than Trent Jr. You said it yourself... Powell is more versatile and polished. This tram could not wait for Trent Jr to become the player he is going to be in 5 years. That's not a knock on Trent Jr either. I hope he becomes a really good player. At this point though, he's a 3 point shooter and he wasnt even doing that well at the time of the trade. Yeah, he started to drive a bit and pull up, but not often enough. I had the same issue with Simon's, which is why I didnt like him. He has started to drive to the basket a bit since Trent Jr left and i want to see more of that rather than jacking up 3 pointers all the time. Powell will help this team during the playoffs far more than Trent and would have. When Trent Jr is 27 years old, perhaps he will be the better player. We simply can't wait for him to catch up.

Blazinaway · Post #206 » by **Blazinaway** » Tue May 18, 2021 4:48 pm

DaVoiceMaster wrote:Powell helps this team more than Trent Jr. You said it yourself... Powell is more versatile and polished. This tram could not wait for Trent Jr to become the player he is going to be in 5 years. That's not a knock on Trent Jr either. I hope he becomes a really good player. At this point though, he's a 3 point shooter and he wasnt even doing that well at the time of the trade. Yeah, he started to drive a bit and pull up, but not often enough. I had the same issue with Simon's, which is why I didnt like him. He has started to drive to the basket a bit since Trent Jr left and i want to see more of that rather than jacking up 3 pointers all the time. Powell will help this team during the playoffs far more than Trent and would have. When Trent Jr is 27 years old, perhaps he will be the better player. We simply can't wait for him to catch up.

I thought Simons (still 21) improved surprisingly (to me) this year, especially in the 2nd half. He shot the 3 ball very well (14th in NBA at 42.6%), played better D (still not good but better), drove the ball a bit better, and kept his turnovers down. He seems to be becoming a rotation player

d-train · Post #207 » by **d-train** » Tue May 18, 2021 10:23 pm

It's going to be fun watching what Raptors do this off-season. They traded a better player for GTJ, because GTJ's contract gives them flexibility to get near max cap room and generally expands their rebuilding options. The cost of Powell's cap hold hamstrung their contract flexibility. GTJ's cap hold is only $2M.

Raptors can shop free agency or the trade market with that cap room. If they don't re-sign GTJ or use their cap room this off-season, they have flexibility to carry the cap room to the next off-season.

Goldbum · Post #208 » by **Goldbum** » Wed May 19, 2021 1:17 am

Lets not forget Hood played way too much and RHJ has been better in fewer minutes.

JasonStern · Post #209 » by **JasonStern** » Wed May 19, 2021 5:11 pm

Goldbum wrote:Lets not forget Hood played way too much and RHJ has been better in fewer minutes.

Yeah. If the Blazers can retain RHJ on a veteran minimum contract next season, I hope they do.

HoopsFanAZ · Post #210 » by **HoopsFanAZ** » Wed May 19, 2021 6:09 pm

A number of posters on this board have made a strong case using data to argue that GTJ is not currently a good defender. Mediocre, for some, would be the high mark. GTJ's willingness to take on just about anyone, with intensity and grit, probably has achieved much more activity than accomplishment. However, if a younger player starts with that attitude and activity, IMHO, he's got a path to becoming a good defender (team and one on one).

Powell is a keeper with Lillard. I hope that next season shows the coaches (and players) involving him more in the top otions on offense for the Blazers.

Raptors_Dynasty · Post #211 » by **Raptors_Dynasty** » Sun May 30, 2021 2:34 pm

You guys got a great guy and player, rooting for him and y'all!

d-train · Post #212 » by **d-train** » Sun May 30, 2021 6:37 pm

The Powell over GTJ upgrade for Blazers is undeniable by any reasonable assessment. It's incredible there are still some that want to label it a bad deal. It's not just a great short-term deal by Blazers. It's a good long-term deal and could be great if other pieces fall into place.

GTJ is a fine player. But, he is just a shooter. He's a very good shooter. He could become an even better shooter. But, he doesn't have the strength and athleticism of Powell. GTJ will never have better strength and athleticism. Powell has improved more and can still improve more than GTJ, because Powell has strength and athleticism at the basis of his skillset. Additionally, Powell has a track record of improvement as the basis of his character. Being 22 is not a good argument that you have more potential to improve at anything, more than a 28 year old. There are plenty of people that peak at 22. And, what you do between 22-28 says a lot about what you might do between 28-32. I'll bet on Powell's potential to improve before I would bet on GTJ.

monopoman · Post #213 » by **monopoman** » Mon May 31, 2021 7:52 pm

I am more than fine with Simons taking 3 pointers look at his 3 point production over all the Nuggets playoff games, he is shooting 60% from three point land making 6 out of 10. Now this is partly because he was very hot in game 1 and hit 4 out of 5. Could he drive a bit more? Maybe, but the Nuggets are giving him wide open looks, and most of these looks are passes by Lillard or CJ when he is wide open.

These are not the most difficult 3 point shots in the NBA and he is a very good shooter. The Nuggets will not leave a guy on Simons to try to take that away especially when CJ+Lillard are on the court with him.

Simons will likely be a much better player in 3 or 4 years, but that doesn't mean he is useless now especially as a bench player.

Norm2953 · Post #214 » by **Norm2953** » Tue Jun 1, 2021 2:47 am

If they can move CJ in the off season, Powell likely would be a good fit alongside of Dame and
Simons would have some minutes as the sixth man/third guard.

d-train · Post #215 » by **d-train** » Tue Jun 1, 2021 11:32 am

There should be a special club for people that believe Hillary Clinton is going to jail and Blazers have any interest in trading CJ.

Sinobas · Post #216 » by **Sinobas** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 2:17 pm

I hope Powell is our starting 2 next year, with CJ traded. Covington can move to 3 and if Collins stays healthy he can maybe be our starting PF. That unit should be much better defensively.

Sinobas · Post #217 » by **Sinobas** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 2:17 pm

d-train wrote:There should be a special club for people that believe Hillary Clinton is going to jail and Blazers have any interest in trading CJ.

Right, they could be named something like "those who live outside the asylum"

d-train · Post #218 » by **d-train** » Fri Jun 4, 2021 2:32 pm

Sinobas wrote:
d-train wrote:There should be a special club for people that believe Hillary Clinton is going to jail and Blazers have any interest in trading CJ.

Right, they could be named something like "those who live outside the asylum"

Happy trails

Wickzki · Post #219 » by **Wickzki** » Sun Jun 6, 2021 12:05 pm

d-train wrote:There should be a special club for people that believe Hillary Clinton is going to jail and Blazers have any interest in trading CJ.

I honestly believe that IF Dame stays that this is the time that he would acknowledge that things need to change (he's already said) and that that includes CJ (you'd never say that publicly).

If we're to keep Powell then he effectively makes CJ expendable.

Now is the time.

And if not, you're right.

PDXKnight · Post #220 » by **PDXKnight** » Sun Jun 6, 2021 5:37 pm

Wickzki wrote:
d-train wrote:There should be a special club for people that believe Hillary Clinton is going to jail and Blazers have any interest in trading CJ.

I honestly believe that IF Dame stays that this is the time that he would acknowledge that things need to change (he's already said) and that that includes CJ (you'd never say that publicly).

If we're to keep Powell then he effectively makes CJ expendable.

Now is the time.

And if not, you're right.

I wonder what the odds are we retain powell at this point. i’d say it’s lower than 50 percent at this point