Did Blazers blindside Norman Powell with trade?

The Portland Trail Blazers’ decision to trade Norman Powell last week came as a surprise, evidently even to Powell himself.

The new LA Clippers swingman opened up to reporters Sunday about being traded by the Blazers. Powell said that he did not think he would be traded after signing a long-term deal with Portland, per ClutchPonts’ Tomer Azarly. He also said that he had just bought a new house in Portland and moved in a bunch of furniture before the trade.

Powell, 28, signed a five-year, $90 million contract to return to the Blazers this past offseason. As a 3-and-D player with 20-point-per-game upside, Powell looked like he would be a foundational player in Portland for years to come. But he was dealt to the Clippers with Robert Covington for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson and a future second-round pick. The trade essentially amounted to a money-saving move for Portland.

Powell’s comments definitely make it seem like he felt somewhat blindsided by the move. But on the bright side, he now gets to play on a Clippers team with legitimate championship upside over the next few seasons. It is also a homecoming for Powell, who played college ball at UCLA, and reunites him with former Toronto Raptors teammates Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka.

As for the Blazers, they are not a major destination for free agents and have faced questions over their organizational culture recently. Powell’s remarks here might serve as another hit to Portland’s reputation.