Toronto Raptors Receive: C Myles Turner, G Edmond Sumner

Indiana Pacers Receive: G Norman Powell, C Aron Baynes, TOR 2023 1st Round Pick (Lottery-Protected)

Norman Powell is the guy not talked about enough on the Raptors and could have a huge impact on the Pacers if Indiana was able to pull off a trade to land him. The 27-year-old wing is now in his sixth season in the NBA and after a breakout season last year, Powell has continued to play at a high-level this year.

With Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam in the spotlight for the Raptors, what Norman Powell does for Toronto often goes unnoticed, making him one of the most under-appreciated players in the entire league. This season, Powell is averaging 18.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and is shooting 43.8% from three-point range. 

With all of the injuries the Pacers have had this season and with the returns of Caris LeVert and T.J. Warren still very much up-in-the-air, Indiana is going to need to make some kind of a move at the trade deadline to keep themselves in playoff contention since they have lost 10 of their last 14 games. 

Scoring needs to be prioritized over defense right now for the Pacers, which is why they could very much look to trade Turner for Powell. The Raptors could desperately use a talented center like Turner, the only question though is if they are willing to give up Powell, who has been a huge factor in their recent success. 

Not only is Turner one of the best shot-blocking big men in the league, but with his ability to step out on the perimeter and knock down shots, he could fill the void Ibaka left behind on this Raptors’ team. 

Ultimately, there is a lot to like about this trade for both sides, but they could come with some concerns. Let’s take a look at why this trade makes sense for both the Raptors and Pacers as they both look to make it back to the playoffs and make deep playoff runs.