Author: Monojit Mandal
This summer, Los Angeles Clippers point guard Norman Powell is reportedly attracting a lot of commercial interest. Powell, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, is “available for trade across the league” after talks with the Washington Wizards and veteran point guard Chris Paul. The Wizards eventually opted to trade Paul to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Jordan Poole and two draft picks.
Powell, who was instrumental in the Toronto Raptors winning the 2019 NBA championship, has been with the Clippers since February 2022. Powell, who was a starter in the previous two seasons, spent most of last season on the bench, starting only eight of the 60 games in which he took part.
Despite this, Powell was a constant offensive stimulus for the Clippers, averaging 17.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.9 three-pointers and 1.8 assists in just over 26 minutes per game. He hit 47.9% of his shots from the field and 39.7% of his shots from beyond the arc, demonstrating exceptional efficiency.
Powell, who was drafted in the second round of the 2015 NBA draft by UCLA, played a limited role in his first four seasons with the Raptors. During the 2019-20 season, he witnessed a substantial increase in scoring, averaging 16.0 points per game. Since then, he has averaged 17.6 points per game.
Powell’s best statistical season came in 2021-22, when he split time between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers. Powell started 41 of the 45 games and averaged a career-best 19.0 points per game during that period.
Powell signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the Blazers in 2021 and is under contract until the 2025-26 season. Despite being a valuable and effective player, the Clippers may be thinking of transferring him in order to have more financial freedom.
The Clippers’ early exit from the playoffs last season, coupled with Paul George’s injury, highlighted the team’s need for a stronger supporting cast. When both players are healthy, George and Kawhi Leonard are one of the best duos in the NBA, but injuries have hampered their potential in recent seasons. It’s possible that the Clippers will need to make moves or free up salary cap space to improve their prospects.