In each of his past two years, Portland Trail Blazers guard Norman Powell has produced an increase in production. This season, under what he expects to be an “expanded role,” a chance for a third uptick will be within reason. Casey Holdahl, NBA.com’s Blazers beat reporter, took a deeper look into that dynamic, and how the combo guard has increased comfort in Year Two.
Powell expressed excitement about being able to “sit down” with each of the Blazers’ star guards, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, to discuss additional ways to further incorporate him into the system, and that, paired with wondering what could happen under a full season played into Powell’s decision to return on a five-year, $90 million deal.