5:07pm: The trade sending Powell to Portland is official, according to a team press release. Raptors team president Masai Ujiri lauded Powell’s contributions to Toronto in a statement.
“Norman accomplished so much with the Raptors,” Ujiri said in part. “Norman is an NBA Champion, and he has earned his place as one of the great success stories in franchise history.”
11:52am: The Raptors will send Norman Powell to the Trail Blazers in exchange for Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Portland won the bidding war for Powell, who is expected to turn down an $11.6MM player option for next season and become a free agent. He will add another scoring option to a Blazers team that already has Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in the backcourt.
It was reported that roughly half the league had called Toronto to inquire about Powell, who is having a career-best season at 19.5 PPG.
The Raptors opted for financial flexibility in the deal. Hood, 28, has a $10.86MM contract for next season that is non-guaranteed until June 23. Hood’s playing time has dropped off sharply this season and he’s shooting just 29.8% from beyond the arc.
Trent is making $1.66MM and will be a restricted free agent this summer if Toronto makes a $2.12MM qualifying offer. The third-year swingman became a part-time starter this season and is averaging a career-high 15.0 PPG. He has knocked down 40.7% of his three-point attempts over the last two seasons.
Since the Raptors will have the right to match any offer Trent receives, the team should have an easier time retaining him than it would have with Powell, who will be unrestricted. Trent’s cap hold will also be just $2.12MM, as Bobby Marks of ESPN notes (via Twitter), allowing the Raptors to open up more cap room.
Portland generates a $1.7MM trade exception in the deal, tweets Marks. Bird rights will accompany Powell and Trent, so their new teams can go over the cap to re-sign them.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
You linked Gary Trent Sr, not Gary Trent Jr.
Lol!
With that being said though… his Dad was traded to Toronto 2 and a half seasons into his career so, so far him and his dada have the same career path
That is kind of weird. Maybe he will sign in Dallas in the upcoming offseason just to keep the same path going. Which is actually not a far-fetched idea. He would be a good replacement for Hardaway.
Raptors messed up here
One thing I would never understand is
Heat and 76ers offer so much for Lowry
Why not offer a bit for Powell？
Herro
Robinson
Dragic
That’s a lot
76ers offer
2 Firsts
Maxey
Thybulle
Green
Curry
You’re high if you think Powell is worth even half of those proposed trades. Please stop posting such idiotic comments
Damn, I did it again. I Started to the process the implications of such trade offers until I remembered to read the name of who posted said offers….smh
It’s the “posting like a bot” for me
Kind of an underwhelming return. Not even a draft pick attached?
Trent Jr is really good and 5 years younger, could realistically be better than Powell in 2-3 seasons.
What?? I get you loose hood’s contract but Powell will be free agent. I would prefer Trent.
I just think Powell is a budding star. Maybe I’m over reacting lol
If you are trying to win a title this season, its Powell > Trent all day.
Why aren’t you trying to win a title this season?
dont think powell puts them in contention
but he fits better next to cj and dame
This might be the worst trade in Blazer history. Trent Jr must have wanted out because PDX lost a future star for a bench-made, expiring, Powell. Lost depth on the bench in the process. Less defense, good idea when you get out rebounded by 20+ !!!
Fools in Portland. Trent was worth a 1st. Powell is worth next to nothing, same as Hood on an expiring contract. Powell isn’t staying in Portland, and we don’t want him! Fools!
Norm literally averages 20 a game lol but I guess that’s “bench made”
And assuming McCollum is coming off the bench would be intelligent?
Norm came off the bench most of the time anyways smartass. Lowry-Van vleet-anunoby-siakam-baynes is usually the starting 5
It’s not my fault you guys don’t know anything about the raptors. You will like Powell, trust me.
Yeah, I’ve seen him, and will watch him walk right out the door this summer, and maybe a first round loss due to their now even worse defense. Maybe worse get eliminated by one of the carnie play-in teams in the pre-1st round. I’m sick. Its just shy of my dog getting hit by a car.
Your name is “BO don’t know Ball” and it really shows here lmfao, your weird and nobody wants to hear your horrible hot takes. Norman Powell is averaging 20 ppg and 23 in the last 10 games, he’s gonna add pressure on a lot of defenses because he can score which is going to open up better looks for both Dame and CJ. I rest my case
Hot take then do a school girl gossip laden one of your own? Hypocrite. I won’t let you tarnish Raptors fans good name. Of course you love the trade, raps made out great! Bo don’t know Ball, is that your best? Try again balzak!
Man chill out, your name literally insinuates that you do not know ball, lmao
Oh damn how did Norm do in his first game? 22 points
How did Trent do in his first game? Trash
And yall think I need a xanax LOL
Nah you still do bro
Powell has a ring, Portland fans have absolutely no idea what those look like.
You are way too high on GTJ
I don’t get this move for Portland. I get they added another efficient scorer, but they needed a PF and another ball handler. Now they have less size, especially at the guard position.
Small ball is winning ball
In 2021, its athletic wings > chunky Barkley types
This move probably gets Portland to the WCF.
Powell is a great pickup for Blazers.
Only a non blazer fan would think that. Trent Jr is a better defender, and Portland has enormous guard depth. All this did was make Ujiri look like a genius, and portland low IQ fumble F#$ks!
Trent Jr. & Hood would have been better to ride out the year with letting them leave than a 0 future asset return for a future asset! Portland got hosed!
@Spirit of 1977 you have no idea how to build a contending basketball team, calm down
I agree stevep-4, Powell is going to get them to the WCF for sure now. There’s always an elite scorer on the floor now.
This feels like a “Just do something!” trade for Portland. Trent is nearly equal to Powell in talent, younger, controllable and cheaper in the coming years.
Not impressed. It should have been Powell for Bamba & Ennis or Powell for Bagley! Masai messed up!
I mean that’s assuming the Kings/Magic are interested in that deal. With the Magic selling, I doubt they’d want to acquire Powell. And it seems like the Kings don’t want to move Bagley.
Trust in Ujiri,
Trent Jr isn’t going to be a superstar, but could very well turn into something useful and is young, 15ppg + 40% 3pt with decent D as a 3rd year player.
Hood probably gets bought out
Was expecting picks for him and Lowry in hopes they would be used to trade for a superstar.
Then you can re sign KL 2 years 60 and NP 5 years 80ish in the off-season. But I guess my expectations were a little high as well
The raps need a better big man, not another guard! Tent is decent yes but he’s not leading any team to the playoffs, or to a playoff series win.
He’s 22…
My trade grade
Blazers A
Raptors C
Trent Jr is very underrated. Too bad they had include him in the deal.
@mlbnyyfan Trent Jr. is massively overrated, especially in this thread lol. 1.3 WS this year he aint a big deal…
marty you didnt even know who gary trent jr was before this thread stop lying
Portland Z-
Extra points deduction for deficiency in the management of future team strategy, and maximization of current valued assets. Fans are crying in Portland. Gary Trent Sr. left a blue collar stamp & identity in Portland that Trent Jr. assumed. Outsiders wouldn’t get it
My only guess is that Portland was afraid of the type of deal Trent might get in free agency. Otherwise I don’t really get this. Doesn’t seem like it pushes the needle for them.
I like it. Trent is a good young player that already puts up similar numbers to Powell, while they still save cap space this summer by (most likely) cutting hood.
I really like Trent Jr. Not a fan of this swap at all.
I like the deal for the Raptors. Powell has had a great season, but someone is going to go $20+ million this offseason for him, and it’s better that it’s not Toronto. Trent Jr. is an RFA who will likely cost much less, and should basically be a wash with Powell (better defensively, not quite as good offensively). Trent is also five year’s younger than Powell, which is better for a rebuilding timeline.
Hood is a salary matcher, and if he plays for Toronto, it will only be for this season. No future commitment to him either.
As for Portland, they have a high scoring backcourt already, and though Powell plays the SF, is he going to get the amount of touches and shots that he did in Toronto? He’ll be a better scorer than Trent and Hood, but a team that doesn’t play much defense as it is has made themselves a little worse at that end of the court with this deal.
Good trade for Blazers. Powell, despite his height, is a true multi-position wing, and that’s a better fit with the DL-CJM backcourt better.
Throwing a 1st in the trash on a bench SG that will never fit the small forward mold the blazers need and will almost certainly leave in the offseason is good for Portland?
I’d say good for everyone in the league, but Portland. Trent Jr will be a star with Siakam, Annunoby, FFV.
What 1st was thrown in the trash? Please don’t say something silly like Trent Jr (as a rising RFA) was going to fetch a 1st. Trent Jr is VERY unlikely to be a star, but even if he did become one, it wasn’t going to be with Portland, unless they trade CJM. 90 mm for a backcourt that can’t defend is no way to build a team.
Good move for both sides.
Raptors B
Portland A-
I mean it is a somewhat lateral move, but Portland most likely didn’t want to just do nothing. Trent is a RFA so could possibly leave in the offseason and Hood is just meh. The defensive upside Trent provided for this year doesn’t do much when pretty much no one else for them plays defense (apart from Covington). So it looks like Portland is simply going to try and outscore opponents which is what Powell helps provide. Long term I like Trent over Powell, but have to see how much each get in the offseason.
I see it as losing a first for Portland without improving games won, the playoffs winning, and losing this predictable lousy improvement move for nothing. Typical Portland front office, knew this was coming eventually. 1 good offseason, then 1 to ruin the next 5 years. Hope the team sells soon to a competent owner.
Powell is a better player than Trent. Both bench players that have the ability to score. Powell is a much better shooter than Trent but Trent is the better defensive player. Hood wasn’t playing much or adding much value. I think it does make Portland better this year as Powell can score on his own and allow Dame or CJ to actually come off the floor every now and then. I would have liked to keep Trent but without giving up a future 1st round pick, he was probably the only asset worth giving up that Toronto would take.
You’re right and that is the problem with this move. Could have traded Trent for a 1st, played Hood, Simons. Powell is hardly a bench improvement if any. It makes absolutely zero sense if its not to win More playoff games or even better a title. Next option, stack assets for the offseason. Short-sighted ineptitude for GM Neil Olshey and the unleashed current management, and admitted clueless and uninterested owner on NBA basketball.
No one was trading a 1st round pick for Trent Jr.
Then I would have kept him and paid him. Hood expires, what could he cost? $20 million? I bet he is an all-star or reserve all-star in 2 years. Teams will want him this offseason, just like Wood last offseason. He has the goods that Powell doesn’t. Raptors fans are going to be overjoyed with him. He made large strides every offseason he’s played so far. Way faster than Powell has taken to develop. I would have paid a 1st all day for him and his itty-bitty contract. A 20+ pick all day every day without hesitation. No one in this draft is showing more promise than Trent jr. in that range. Hell, a 2nd is better than nothing!
McCollum has never been an all-star, but Trent is on the cusp? Homer fans are the best. With Portland’s 3-or-nothing offense, Powell could light it up. They’re a bottom defensive team with or without Trent.
The Blazers are bad poker players, whats surprising about that?
Blazers are 2 1/2 gms out of 4th seed. This makes them a stronger team. Powell is having a great yr. Plays both ways. Blazers get Aldridge they are as good as anyone. They have Powell Bird rights so he’s still an asset to them. They could do sign n trade. It’s a bold move by Blazers. Screams they are going for it this yr. BOM
2nd worst defense don’t get you anywhere … Wrong move for the blazers who need boards and D
Good move by Toronto. Powell would walk for nothing. Trent is an RFA. Probably lock him in at the same 4/40 that Powell signed w a player option. Hood could get BO.
GTJ wants much money.
link to nba.nbcsports.com
He declined 4/54 extension.
That’s the most he was eligible for, but I don’t think there were any reports confirming the Blazers actually offered that much.
I rarely see either guard drive, but Powell looks like he would be better at it if pressed to do so.
Neither guard is the type GMs typically let go, so the trade is surprising.
CJM is the starter regardless.
I suspect Powell was viewed as most able to be a forward, or anyway, not take minutes from the stars.