Raptors shooting guard Norman Powell had his best year ever in 2019/20 at age 26, prompting Eric Koreen of The Athletic to wonder whether or not this offseason may be the perfect time to trade Powell. He is set to earn $10.9MM in 2020/21, and has an $11.6MM player option for 2021/22.
Koreen posits that Powell may be able to command more money on the open market were he to opt out of the final year of his deal. If the Raptors re-sign guard Fred VanVleet, who figures to be one of the premiere free agents in 2020, Koreen opines that flipping Powell’s contract ahead of a free agent-heavy 2021 offseason may make the most sense for Toronto’s future team-building.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Following a two-day hotel quarantine, the Knicks started their first in-market group workouts under new head coach Tom Thibodeau today at their Westchester Country training facility, according to Steve Popper of Newsday. Popper reports that nearly all Knicks players, including everyone on a team option for next season, participated in individual workouts last week.
- Unrestricted Nets free agent wing Joe Harris, one of the best three-point shooters in the league, will not be wanting for suitors during the offseason, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports. Teams with cap space Lewis anticipates having interest include the Knicks, Hawks, Hornets and Timberwolves, though Harris might also be targeted as part of a sign-and-trade deal for an over-the-cap club, such as the Warriors or Sixers. Both Golden State and Philadelphia project to be taxpayers, which would complicate any sign-and-trade deal.
- Celtics small forward Jaylen Brown has quietly ascended during the NBA’s Disney World restart to become one of the key leaders for Boston, Marcus Thompson of The Athletic writes in an extensive profile.
May I know how it works for the following?
Harris might also be targeted as part of a sign-and-trade deal for a team with less salary cap room, specifically the Warriors or Sixers.
The Sixers and warriors are over the cap so they can’t sign Harris for more than the mid-level exception. He will clearly get more than that on the open market, so any team that is over the cap that wants to acquire him would have to sign and trade. The nets would recoup a player or assets in return for their cooperation in facilitating the move. Like how the Sixers traded butler to the heat last year via sign and trade because the heat did not have the cap space to sign him outright
The only reason for Ujiri to extend to $20mil for FVV is because he takes wear & tear off Lowry by doing similar things with apparently fine durability.
But putting weight on Powell’s shoulders to be a starter and to do that and help the team avoid an overpay seems like plan A. At least wait for FVV to resolve first before moving him. Locals will want FVV paid & back but I would stop at $15 tops.
17-20M is about what everyone else with a 16.0 ish PER is making. Buddy, Scary Terry, Fournier, Backyard Wrestler Rubio, Dragic, LaVert, Bojan. FVV will probably get 20M unless the Knicks get stupid.
Good pt. And he might be worth more to another team that does not already have a Lowry.
Pro-Raps posters always say, sign FVV first, but they may be talking with national pride.
They also say Lowry’s not running out of gas yet and I believe that. Raps can get FVV later if necessary.
We don’t want VanVleet lol. Get stupid ?? Is Horford, Harris, no Jimmy. And that’s just last yr.
No team who has cap space is going to sign VanVleet. Why ?? Next yr is the FA yr. Only team that needs him is Raptors. Lowry is a FA to be. And should be moved by deadline. He fits their team. Not worth 20 mill to me. But he should be around there. Brogdon is a better player imo. Harris probably gets resigned. Nets will need shooters around KD n Kyrie. Nets also probably making a big trade. I would say after draft.