In an appearance with the well-known Zach Lowe on “The Zach Lowe Show,” Howard Beck, as a credible face in the industry of sports writing, is exactly right in claiming the LA Clippers made a mistake hunting for salary relief by swapping Norman Powell for John Collins.
Furthermore, Beck’s elaborate explanation could not have been more right. Lawrence Frank had plans to avoid extension talks with Powell, as he wanted the Clippers’ books to be clean in 2027. Thus, a door opened to get rid of Powell, and Frank stepped both feet in, and gladly accepted Collins as the returning piece.
While Frank had the right intentions, he crushed the Clippers’ short-term chances of success. Powell may be 32, but he is having the kind of season that will lead to an undeniable ticket to the 2026 All-Star game.
The LA Clippers knew in the back of their minds that Norman Powell was extension-worthy
All along, the LA Clippers used the excuse of Norman Powell slipping up in the 2025 postseason as a reason not to extend him. Yet the Clippers’ current 5-13 record proves that Powell was the X-Factor and deserved a big check, signed and dated by Lawrence Frank.
However, Frank knew that a new face with potential, like John Collins, would have to start from scratch and establish himself to get paid. This contradicted Powell’s circumstances, as the former UCLA Bruin was already in a position to agree on a long-term deal.
Thus, Frank made the exchange as soon as the Utah Jazz were ready, so that he could dodge a strong, definite case that Powell pieced together. Ultimately, it would have been hard to say no to the fan favorite wing, and out of line to low-ball him with a disappointing price.
Now, Powell is on the third-seeded Miami Heat, averaging 25.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, shooting 50.0% from the floor and 46.4% from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, the Clippers do not have many words to justify their loss from the three-team trade executed in the summer, other than the fact that they did not expect Collins to let down the fan base.
That said, their salary cap in 2027 should have never deterred the Clippers from extending Powell. It was the right decision from the jump, and Howard Beck is correct for noting that LA made an offseason blunder by shipping him off.