The Clippers‘ replacement for Paul George appears to be Norman Powell through the early part of the 2024/25 season, The Athletic’s Law Murray writes. In a recent win over George’s Sixers, Powell hit six threes en route to 26 points.
Having never averaged more than 19.0 points per game in a season entering 2024/25, Powell is putting up 25.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists on a scorching .516/.494/.861 shooting line so far.
“I’ve always envisioned myself being in this position and wanting the opportunity,” Powell said Wednesday night. “Learning from when I was in Toronto with Kyle (Lowry) and DeMar (DeRozan), learning from Dame (Lillard) and CJ (McCollum), learning from PG and Kawhi (Leonard). Being around those top guys and just getting game and knowledge from them in the summer. Going up against them, battling, and just wanting that.”
Powell was acquired by the Clippers from the Trail Blazers at the 2022 trade deadline and he’s in the fourth year of a five-year, $90MM contract he signed with Portland. He’s on the books for $19.2MM this season and $20.5MM next year.
Powell, who finished fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting in each of his two full seasons in Los Angeles, averaged 15.3 points on 10.9 shot attempts per game during that stretch. Through the early portion of this season, he’s taking 17.4 field goal attempts per game in the wake of George’s departure.
“I saw it as addition by subtraction,” Powell said at Clippers media day about George’s exit. “I was excited. I think what I’ve said in this media day every single year since being here is, I want to be the starting two guard, and the opportunity is in front of me. I prepared myself. I’ve always seen myself as a starter in this league. I feel like I put the work in. I feel like the numbers show for itself when I am starting and what the output is. So I’m excited to take on that role and the pressures that come with it. The good, bad and ugly.”
In a similar piece, Janis Carr of The Orange County Register details Powell’s quest for perfection. Powell recorded his first career double-double on Friday with 31 points and 12 rebounds.
“I have my own mentality and approach to the game, like nothing really changes no matter what role I’m in. I’ve said it multiple times,” Powell said. “I’ve got high expectations for myself. I always see myself as a starter, as a top guy in the league that can come out and help any team win no matter where I’m at.”
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- As we relayed Friday, Cam Reddish took D’Angelo Russell‘s spot in the Lakers‘ starting five. Russell was moved to the bench last season when the team began to lose too, but his connection with then-coach Darvin Ham suffered, Dave McMenamin writes of ESPN. This time with JJ Redick coaching the team, Russell is approaching the situation with a different mentality. “I left all that, all my baggage at the door this summer once we changed coaches and new staff came in,” Russell said. “I was committed to whatever it takes. That’s what y’all see now.”
- The Lakers are expected to be active on the trade market after a 5-4 start with a 24th-ranked defense, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report relays. Fischer names Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez and Washington’s Jonas Valanciunas as two targets on L.A.’s “internal board,” with Russell potentially being available as outgoing salary.
- The Suns are unleashing Kevin Durant by allowing him to embrace coach Mike Budenholzer‘s three-point heavy approach, Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports writes. Durant has helped lead the Suns to an 8-1 record to begin the year by averaging 27.6 PPG on .553/.429/.836 shooting. He’s also averaging 5.0 points per game in clutch minutes, making 63.2% of his field goals in those situations.
- While Durant’s star power is propelling the Suns, they’re getting another boost in Royce O’Neale‘s play, The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin writes. O’Neale is shooting 52.6% on three-pointers so far this season and is first off the bench, and Rankin writes he’s looking like an early Sixth Man of the Year candidate. O’Neale signed a four-year contract this past offseason.
- Kings guard Kevin Huerter missed two games due to an illness last week and FOX40’s Sean Cunningham tweets that he’s still feeling the effects after returning. Huerter is averaging 10.4 PPG for the Kings and has played two games since returning to the team.
Both Lopez and Valanciunas will have value at the trade deadline with multiple teams making offers. Any team taking D’Lo pay will see it as a negative. The question will be how many 1st round picks will be attached?
Expiring contracts are a pretty simple concept
You’ve been here long enough that not understanding them is pretty odd at this point
What is odd is thinking somebody wants D’lo unless they are receiving a bad contract or a draft pick attached to him. You are not getting a player that has value for him. So explain why it’s a good trade?
Someone would want DLo AND a bad contract? Im confused.
I don’t even think he knows what he’s talking about himself WB
Loved what Phoenix did this off-season. They filled out their roster nicely. This team is scary if they are healthy.
Only One Meaningful Move during the Offseason isn’t enough. No back up SF, No Backup C (Len ain’t it)I want to know WHY, the Kings think they have to wait til the Trade Dealine to make any moves. It’s Obvious, what their needs are. Monte McNothing Done, needs to make some moves, NOT wait til the Trade Deadline when we will be out of Contention. Then what will his excuse be ?? Wait til Next Year. Kings Fans are fed up w/ the Wait til Next Year. We’ve wait LONG enough. Keep this Status Quo, and you will lose Fox, and then Sabonis will start demanding a trade, and it will snowball down hill from there. That or Sell the Team and get some Ownership that WILL make some moves !!
We Need a Back Up SF, and a Backup Center, someone who Blocks Shots / Rebounds (Len Ain’t it)
I’ll ask you the same question I ask everyone who touches this topic so broadly. What is the trade? What team A.) Is willing to trade away a good defending big man or a serviceable wing probably on a low end contract AND B.) would want in return some combo of Huerter/Lyles and picks?
There are almost no teams who meet just one of those requirements. There are no teams that meet both.
This means that any move that actually improves this roster likely includes Keegan. Im not necessarily against that depending on the return but from a FO perspective it makes little to no sense to trade away the best 3 point shooter on a team that couldn’t buy a 3 pointer. Especially when that guy is an RFA and an increase in his salary could potentially open up a much larger/impactful trade.
Maybe Im overlooking something so please detail a trade that fixes this rosters problem.