Norm Powell Trade

 Another quick one today! With Norman Powell being traded shortly after I posted yesterday I thought it'd be a perfect opportunity to break down the 3 team trade in my post today. Also a quick shout out to the Jays who just won their 9th straight, keep it rolling guys lets go! 

The Trade

Clippers Get: John Collins

Jazz Get: Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson, 2027 Clippers Second Round Pick

Heat Get: Norman Powell 

LA Clippers 

At face value, I'm not sure I totally understand why the Clippers would do this. Norman Powell was really good for them last year averaging 22ppg on 61.5% true shooting, he made himself into a legit scoring option and helped keep the offense afloat with Kawhi missing most of the season (as usual). They do have other options at guard bringing back James Harden, Khris Dunn, Bogdan Bogdanovic, but none of those guys are as dynamic scoring the basketball as Powell is at this stage of their careers. They do get a pretty good player back in Collins though. Buried on the Utah Jazz last season, Collins had a good year putting up 19 ppg on 53% shooting from the field and 39% from deep. He has his flaws as a player, he's not the best defender at the 4 and is too small to play the 5 full time, but he also has his pros. He's a great lob threat which is something that's always fit really well with James Harden throughout his career. The Clippers did lack size at the 4 and are going to need more bodies to play that position with Kawhi being guaranteed to miss half the year every year. Overall this doesn't really change much for me in my view of the Clippers. They are now thin at guard but deeper at forward. When fully healthy I think Collins probably fits slightly better than Powell, but with an injury to either old Harden or Kawhi, I'd rather have the creation of Powell. The determining factor in this decision was each of these players are on expiring contracts this year. Powell probably commands a higher pay day than Collins and that likely drove the Clippers to this trade. 

 Utah Jazz

This is a stupid trade for the Jazz who are now just emptying their roster of all talent in order to get a good draft pick next season. I'd be surprised if Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson play a minute on the Jazz next season, both are likely to be bought out and join a contender. Neither of them provide a ton of value anyway even if they were to stay. I'd say the only interesting thing for the Jazz now is are they going to free Lauri Markkanen from this situation or force him to play on a 20 win team again? It's not worth diving in any further than that. 

Miami Heat

What a steal for the Heat! Why can't the Raptors ever get in on a deal like this that involves salary dumping really good players for nothing. To get Norman Powell the Heat gave up: a 37 year old who was essentially just a veteran bench presence and Kyle Anderson who didn't figure into the Heat's future at all. Powell was a borderline all star last year and could either start or come off the bench for Miami. I still think they need a real playmaker at point guard, but for now having a backcourt of Tyler Herro and Norman Powell is really solid. I envision Powell being what they thought Terry Rozier was going to be. A 20ppg combo guard who can get downhill and knock down 3s. Any team in the league could use a player like this and Miami just got him for nothing. Great deal

That's that! Just a quick one today, not a trade that really changes much about the overall landscape of the NBA but one that is interesting considering it features a former Raptor. Back tomorrow!