Toronto Raptors: What to expect from Norman Powell in 2017-18

The Toronto Raptors are counting on a big season from third-year guard Norman Powell. Here are the improvements fans should look for in Powell’s game.

This offseason has been a whirlwind for the NBA, with several All-NBA talents finding new homes. The Toronto Raptors chose not to participate in that superstar merry-go-round, instead opting to keep Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka in free agency and continue with their established core.

Toronto’s major additions this summer were C.J. Miles – a nice 3-and-D piece, but nothing more than a role player – and rookie OG Anunoby, who will likely be injured until wintertime. Without much roster turnover, internal development will be paramount.

That development probably starts with Norman Powell, Toronto’s 24-year-old shooting guard who broke out in the playoffs last season. Powell’s effort has won him admiration from Raptors fans through his first two season in the league. He’s more than an effort player, though, and his skill-set could grow rapidly this coming season.

Last year, the UCLA product appeared in 76 games, including 18 starts, but averaged just 18.0 minutes per contest. His stat line of 8.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game was nothing special. And it’s not like he was particularly efficient with his minutes. Powell shot 44.9 percent from the floor and 32.4 percent on threes – decent, but not spectacular.

Powell’s playoff performances, however, showed his real promise. Raptors coach Dwane Casey trusted him to take on more minutes, and Powell delivered. He bumped up his scoring average to 11.7 points per game and shot the lights out from beyond the arc, canning 44.1 percent of his attempts.

With that postseason under his belt, Powell is looking to make progress as an all-around player. His strengths are clear: He plays with unwavering tenacity, possesses high-level athleticism and can guard every perimeter position with his 6’10” wingspan. He has no glaring weaknesses, and as a result, he’ll stick in the NBA unless his physical tools drastically deteriorate.

But Powell’s only a borderline starter at this point, meaning he still has plenty of room for growth. That starts with shooting. Powell’s absurd efficiency from the playoffs likely isn’t sustainable. In his four years at UCLA, the 6’4” guard shot just 31.4 percent from deep. While that percentage has ticked up to 35.1 percent in the NBA, he’s still not knockdown shooter.

Powell has a solid stroke. His elbow can flare out a bit and he’s not Kyle Korver quick, but less attractive shots have gone in at higher rates. The biggest issue may just be confidence; Powell had a quick-trigger in the playoffs once he saw a few shots go down.

He’ll need to bring that confidence into 2017-18 and maintain a solid 35-plus 3-point percentage on a higher volume of attempts. Casey wants the Raptors to modernize their attack and shoot more threes, and wings like Powell must be ready to hoist. Plus, if defenders respect his shot, it opens up Powell’s promising pump-and-drive game:

Indeed, putting the ball on the deck is another piece of Powell’s development. He’s explosive enough to get to the rim consistently, especially when Lowry and DeMar DeRozan bend the defense and open up driving lanes on the weakside. The problem? Powell’s handle is loose and his passing vision isn’t always reliable.

Last season, Powell finished in the league’s 85th percentile scoring out of the pick-and-roll, suggesting he has some untapped potential as a ball-handler. But Casey only gave Powell 2.4 such possessions per game.

This year, with Cory Joseph now in Indiana, Powell will likely take on more playmaking responsibilities on Toronto’s inexperienced second unit. If he wants to translate his efficiency over a larger volume, he needs to keep his head up and his turnovers down. Maybe the diversification of the Raptors offense will empower him as a playmaker, but that’s up for debate.

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At any rate, Powell has become an integral part of Toronto’s roster. He’ll likely be the first player off the bench, replacing either a big man or C.J. Miles. And in all probability, he’ll get the same 25 minutes per game run – if not more – that he got in the playoffs.

But fans and pundits have had a tendency to overrate Powell on the back of his stellar playoff performance. The dude is good; he has a ton of work to do, though. Powell’s goal this season should be to force his way into Casey’s finishing lineups. A Lowry-DeRozan-Powell-Miles-Ibaka squad may not have enough size, but Powell has the chance to make himself indispensable.

As a playmaker, shooter and just generally, Powell will have a greater role this season. It’s up to him to grab that opportunity by the horns. A successful season for Powell will likely entail double-digit scoring, the development of a respected 3-point shot and 2-3 assists per game, along with his typical defensive intensity and fearlessness.

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This is a big year for Powell. Let’s see if he delivers.