Toronto Raptors: NBA trade deadline winners and losers

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 29: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors waves to his family during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Amalie Arena on January 29, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /

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Toronto Raptors, NBA trade deadline Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images /

Winner: Norman Powell

Seeing Norman Powell traded away is heart-wrenching for Raptors fans. Powell has spent his entire career with the franchise, developing into one of the better pure scorers in the league, as way as one of the most underrated.

Powell spent part of six seasons with the team. He won a championship with the team. This season, he was averaging a career-high 19.6 points per game for the team, starting more than half the games for the first time in his tenure.

While Powell’s microwave offense off the bench was always exhilarating, he deserves to be a starter in this league, an opportunity he wasn’t really given in his first five seasons with the Raptors. Portland is affording him that opportunity for a playoff team, starting each of his first five games with the franchise.

Not only does this give Powell the chance to try a new role, but it does it at the opportune time. Powell is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season if he chooses to decline his player option and could command around $20 million annually on the open market.

The Raptors were not likely going to give Powell the next big contract he deserves. Getting to start on a playoff team should give him time to enhance his value and allow him to cash in on a big payday.

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