Since before the ink had even dried on Norman Powell’s four-year, $42-million extension with the Raptors, the contract looked like a risk to me. A smaller guard (albeit with good wingspan), with a limited history of outside shooting and a worrying habit of developing tunnel vision, getting top-reserve money was puzzling — even if the desired upside, an energetic 3-D guy with some play-making chops, was enticing.
Those worries carried over into last season as Powell struggled mightily — his numbers cratered across the board — setting career lows in true shooting percentage, total rebound percentage, steal percentage, and free-throw rate.