The Trail Blazers made a significant move at Thursday’s trade deadline, trading Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney hood to the Toronto Raptors for Norman Powell. The move helps alleviate cap room from Hood’s contract, but also brings in what many analysts say is a better version of GTJ… Powell that is. What was the main impetus for bringing the Raptor to Rip City, though?
“I’d rather have the better player you can’t sign,” Blazers’ GM Neil Olshey told FAN Blazers Insider, Jason Quick.
During his hit with Isaac and Suke Thursday, Jason Quick explained how Olshey started to see a trend in recent games that didn’t instill confidence in the team’s future. “What spurred this movement was the big blow out to Dallas and laying the egg against Brooklyn,” Quick said. “He (Olshey) felt that the Blazers needed to be shaken up, and this was his answer to that.”
Both Trent Jr. and Powell have player options at the end of this season. It seemed like an incremental move, but could pay off in the long run. “I think the Blazers feel Norman Powell is better than Gary Trent because he’s more athletic, he gets to the free throw line,” Quick explained. “He can guard many positions and a much better defender than Gary.”
So are the Trail Blazers a better team now, than earlier in the week?
“I think they’re better than they were yesterday when they woke up,” Quick answered. “Ultimately the player has to buy-in to the roll they’re being offered.”
CHECK OUT JASON QUICK’S FULL INTERVIEW IN THE PLAYER ABOVE!