The Portland Trail Blazers are set to be one of the most active teams in the trade market and during the NBA free agency period. The questions about Damian Lillard have swirled all offseason. Chauncey Billups being named the head coach raised eyebrows and the future of CJ McCollum even took a hit.
Well, On Tuesday, Blazers guard Norman Powell declined his $11.6 million player option and is set to hit the open market, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
“Norman Powell told Yahoo Sports he will decline his player option for the 2021-22 season and become an unrestricted free agent Aug. 1…The player option is worth $11.6 million and he is expected to receive a considerable raise and a multiyear deal this summer.”
Now Powell is a free agent and the Blazers have even more questions to answer regarding their roster. Of course, priority number one is finding a way to keep Lillard satisfied so he doesn't formally ask to be traded.
Haynes also reported that Powell is going to be the top priority for Portland, which raises another question of the three-guard lineup they ran with CJ, Dame, and Powell.
If Powell does return to Portland, perhaps that means a trade of either Lillard or McCollum, although nobody has the slightest clue what is really going on with the Blazers organization. Reports came out of Lillard requesting a trade, then Lillard himself said it wasn't true and he hadn't decided yet.
Either way, get ready for a busy offseason regarding the Blazers.
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