On the LA Clippers, Norman Powell was not a significant financial burden, mainly due to his production. Teams pay their best players in response to impact, and the Clippers were gladly willing to hold on to Powell's increasing contract, as they did for three and a half seasons.
The dilemma arose when Powell sought an extension, based on his desired price, but the Clippers were not willing to budge. Executive Lawrence Frank likely held firm on the bar he had in mind, and this may have been lower than what the former UCLA Bruin was expecting.
The only option for the Clippers was a trade, as the last thing, and worst-case scenario, would have been for an all-star talent like Powell to remain on the team throughout the final year of his contract and sign elsewhere, when LA could have received a promising talent in return.