In the postseason, Norman Powell’s trade value certainly took a hit, which derailed the LA Clippers from their original plan of trading him in the offseason. They were better off trading him at the deadline, as his only real contribution to the game is scoring, and February is when he peaked.
Furthermore, Powell looked like a different player on the hardwood during the postseason. This is something head coach Tyronn Lue was not accustomed to, and because LA is limited in 20-point-per-game scorers, he was never truly benched like Kris Dunn or Amir Coffey.
However, though the Clippers are projected to receive less after Powell’s market drop, there are still many trades the front office must explore with several different teams. His contract is easily moveable, at $20 million through next season and expiring, so executive Lawrence Frank could get plenty of inquiries.
Through Powell, the Clippers need someone similar who can score efficiently and replicate his mentality. The former UCLA Bruin took pride in his work ethic, which led to exciting trash talk that fans used as energy.
Most guys do not check off each box, but there is one who had a similar story to the league and is expected to be available by the Clippers’ cross-town rival.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Austin Reaves is the perfect solution to the problem the LA Clippers have with Norman Powell
Acquiring Austin Reaves for Norman Powell is the best way to add to the future without taking any loss in performance impact. They are relatively similar players offensively, and both know to pat themselves on the back for their journey to where they are, as Reaves went undrafted and Powell was a late second-round pick.
Given that Reaves has a five-year advantage over Powell, the Los Angeles Lakers will likely ask for more than just the veteran. This is where the Clippers can choose between a future first-round pick or a mix of seconds.
Although Reaves averaged fewer points than Powell last season, he is still a significant upgrade, as there are notable differences in playmaking and rebounding. He also played more games and did better in the postseason.
Additionally, the Clippers can seamlessly pay Reaves the money he will request next summer if his player option is declined. This is because he has just hit his prime, and it is almost a guarantee he will keep rising, leading to no hesitation from LA’s end.
The Lakers may also consider including Shake Milton to balance the incoming and outgoing salaries.