Los Angeles Clippers combo guard Norman Powell is considered available for trade across the league, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
The Clippers tried to trade Powell to the Washington Wizards for point guard Chris Paul. However, the Wizards wound up trading CP3 to the Golden State Warriors for shooting guard Jordan Poole.
“Clippers guard Norman Powell is also considered available for trade across the league, after his name was first mentioned in Los Angeles’ early efforts to acquire Paul from the Wizards,” Fischer wrote.
Powell averaged 17.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists for the Clippers this past season while shooting 47.9% from the field, 39.7% from beyond the arc and 81.2% from the free-throw line in 60 games. The UCLA product helped the Clippers win 44 games in the regular season.
However, LAC lost to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in five games. Powell put up 21.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in the five-game series. His usage rate went up since two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard only played in Games 1 and 2 and All-Star small forward Paul George missed the entire series.
Powell will make $18 million next season. He signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers in August 2021. The Clippers acquired Powell from the Blazers in February 2022. The San Diego native has career averages of 12.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists with the Toronto Raptors, Blazers and Clippers.
LAC has never reached the NBA Finals in franchise history. Leonard and George are two of the best players in the game right now, but neither star has been able to stay healthy since coming to the Clippers in the summer of 2019.
Some people around the NBA believe the Clippers could blow up the roster next offseason if the team doesn’t compete for a championship in 2023-24.
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