Norman Powell is on the move.
The Toronto Raptors have agreed to send Powell to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood.
Welcome to #RipCity, @npowell2404! https://t.co/HXRhASLefB pic.twitter.com/zy0bPrKmfu
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) March 25, 2021
Powell, who was acquired by the Raptors on draft night in 2015, is in the midst of the best year of his career. Through 42 games (31 starts), the 27-year-old is averaging 19.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals while shooting 49.8 percent from the field, 43.9 percent from 3-point range and 86.5 percent from the charity stripe.
MORE: Remembering Norm Powell's best moments with the Raptors
After signing a four-year $42 million extension prior to the 2017-18 season, Powell has a player option for the 2021-22 season, which he is expected to decline to become an unrestricted free agent. He joins a Trail Blazers team that is currently sixth in the Western Conference despite dealing with injuries to key players up to this point in the season.
In return, the Raptors are getting a great young talent in the 22-year-old Trent, who is averaging 15.0 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from beyond the arc through 41 games this season (23 starts).
Trent, who was selected with the 37th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, is on the third and final year of his rookie-scale contract and will be a restricted free agent this offseason. It's also worth noting that his father appeared in 13 games with the Raptors in the 1997-98 season.
Hood, 28, is back in action after undergoing surgery to repair a torn Achilles sustained early in the 2019-20 season. Through 38 games this season (five starts), Hood has averaged 4.7 points while shooting 36.3 percent from the field.
As pointed out by Sportsnet's Michael Grange, Hood's deal is non-guaranteed for the 2021-22 season, meaning Toronto could waive him without any financial penalty.
Stick with NBA.com for more analysis on what this deal means for both sides.
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