Norman Powell, who entered the league in 2015, is making his first All-Star appearance on Sunday as a member of the Heat. An unrestricted free agent after the season, Powell is hoping his time in Miami doesn’t end after this season, he told Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. and Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.
“Hopefully there’s some good synergy from what they’ve seen that I bring to the table,” Powell said. “And hopefully a deal is able to be done sometime. But yeah, I see myself being here and being a part of the Heat organization for however long they’ll have me.”
Powell is in the final year of a five-year, $90MM contract that he signed with Portland. He’s averaging a team-best 23 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 45 starts. The point average is also a career best and his shooting averages are strong — 47.4 percent overall and 39.6 percent on 3-point tries.
He’s extension eligible and would prefer to stay put, even though he’d certainly have suitors on the free agent market.
“This is definitely a place that I want to be,” Powell said. “It’s been nothing but great. Coming here getting adjusted, the organization has been amazing. I love where I’m at. I love the setup. I love the mentality. I love the approach. It has been, honestly, a super easy transition because I feel like everybody in the organization has the same mentality I have of pushing yourself to achieve the best and be the best version of yourself. It’s been fun.”
Powell has been traded a few times in his career and it happened again this week in a odd way. He was moved from the USA Stripes team in the three-team All-Star event on Sunday to the World Team due to Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s injury.
Powell was disappointed last season when he wasn’t selected for the All-Star Game as a member of the Clippers. He averaged a career-best 21.8 points in 60 starts but was dealt to Miami a three-team swap in July.
He now finds himself making that coveted appearance in the new Intuit Dome, the home of the Clippers.
“I really thought that I’d be an All-Star last year with the team, and it didn’t happen,” said Powell, who will also take part in the Three-Point Contest on Saturday night. “Moves are made, and then the venue is actually where you just got traded from and you get selected to be one and go back there in front of the fans, in front of that organization. I think it’s just a nice little Easter egg to the story of my career. … I don’t think they freely wanted to give me up, but I think it’s just a little in-your-face. I still was able to do it.”
To think Norman Powell should be a 2x all star by now if the nba didnt rob his spot last year when they gave it to James Harden
Harden went 25/8 compared to Powell at 21/2 while being fed by Harden. Powell was a great feel good story but he didn’t deserve an All-Star bid over Harden.
Still doesn’t deserve it over Harden this year. Powell just puts up scoring numbers and provides nothing else for his team.