Report: Portland Trail Blazers guard Norman Powell to decline player option, test free agency

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Norman Powell will reportedly test free agency.

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Powell will decline his $11.6 million player option for the 2021-22 season to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

While Powell is expected to have multiple suitors, Haynes adds that the Portland Trail Blazers are making it a "top priority" to re-sign him.

Powell began the 2020-21 season with the Toronto Raptors. He was acquired by the Trail Blazers at the trade deadline, with the Raptors getting Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood in return.

In 27 games with the Trail Blazers, all of which he started in, Powell averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals on .443/.361/.880 shooting splits. He then averaged 17.0 points per game on .500/.385/.889 shooting splits in Portland's first-round series with the Denver Nuggets, making him the team's third-leading scorer.

NBA.com's Gilbert McGregor ranked Powell as the second-best shooting guard in this year's free agent class, trailing only four-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan.

Powell is "expected to receive a considerable raise and a multi-year deal in free agency," per Haynes.

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Scott Rafferty is a Senior NBA Editor for The Sporting News