Clippers-Blazers pull off big NBA trade ahead of deadline
By Josh Hill
Normal Powell, Eric Bledsoe, and others are on the move in the NBA’s first big pre-deadline trade of the season.
The NBA Trade Deadline is still a handful of days away, but both the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers aren’t wasting any time in striking a deal.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Clippers and Blazers have made the first big trade ahead of the deadline next week.
“Clippers are trading Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, and future second-round pick to the Trail Blazers for Norman Powell and Robert Covington, sources tell ESPN,” Wojnarowski reported on Friday afternoon.
There’s a ton to unpack from this deal, but one thing that will undoubtedly come up in the hullabaloo of the fallout is what this means for the future of Damian Lillard in Portland.
Woj points out that the Blazers moving Powell has more to do with Anfrenee Simons coming into his own more than anything else.
“The emergence of Anfernee Simons allows for the Blazers to move off the balance of Norman Powell’s long-term contract — and gives the Clippers a proven two-way wing to partner with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George,” Woj said.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.