It took a while for Norman Powell to wrap his head around the Raptors’ four-year, $42-million contract offer. The second-round pick fully expected to hit restricted free agency after this season — although he never wanted to leave.
The wakeup call came early for the cocksure San Diego teenager, a swiftly delivered unequivocal message that, no, Norm Powell wasn’t all that he was cracked up to be and that he wouldn’t get what he deserved until he learned it took work — hard work, and plenty of it.