3 signs that show the Portland Trail Blazers are preparing for a big trade

Sign #2 – the re-signing of Norman Powel

Though the Blazers had to re-sign Norman Powell as they couldn’t afford to lose the asset, trading for a six-foot-three shooting guard who needed a payday between $80 and $100 million, was a strange move.

With a combined $70 million a year already committed to two shooters in McCollum and Lillard, signing a 28-year-old Powell to $18 million a year over the next five years just doesn’t make sense.

Eventually, guys like Jusuf Nurkic, Larry Nance Jr, Robert Covington, and Anfernee Simons will require new deals. How can the Blazers pay these guys while also signing other valuable role players? $92 million a year across these three guards in the 2023 season will make it very difficult to have a competent bench, depth pieces or frontcourt.

Each of these players has significant value in the league. But, if you first look at the fact that Damian Lillard is the piece to build around, and Powell’s superior fit with Dame, may mean that last year’s trade for Powell and the ensuing payday that he got was he so he could replace McCollum.

Powell fits so much better with Lillard due to his slashing and rim finishing ability, his six-foot-ten wingspan, and his strength on both ends. Powell isn’t as good as McCollum, but he can do 80 percent of what McCollum can do, is $10 million cheaper, and more importantly, he fits better with Dame as he has skills that Dame doesn’t at the rim.