Clippers land Robert Covington, Norman Powell from Blazers in five-player trade

A pair of teams that are separated by just two positions in the Western Conference standings swung a five-player deal on Friday, less than one week ahead of the NBA trade deadline.

According to multiple reports, the Portland Trail Blazers have sent Normal Powell and Robert Covington to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for guards Eric Bledsoe and Keon Johnson, as well as Justise Winslow and a 2025 second-round pick via the Detroit Pistons. Powell -- who was first on the Trail Blazers in three-point field goal percentage (40.6%) and third in points per game (18.7) -- and Covington, who is second on the squad with 5.7 rebounds per game, will help fill the void left by injured stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

Portland is still without injured star point guard Damian Lillard, and Bledsoe could provide the squad with a healthy body in the backcourt down the stretch, as he played in all 54 of Los Angeles' games this season and made 29 starts. Forward Nassir Little is "likely" done for the season, meaning Winslow -- a former star at Duke and second-team All-Rookie -- could get a boost in playing time from the 12.9 minutes per contest he was seeing with the Clippers.

Johnson is the least experienced of the quintet of players being moved in the trade, averaging just 9.0 minutes over his first 15 career games. He could see some more time after the relocation, however, particularly if Lillard remains out and the Trail Blazers fall out of playoff contention.

Los Angeles is currently eighth in the West at 27-27, while Portland sits in 10th at 21-31.