The early-season records in Brooklyn and Chicago are already pushing two names into the trade conversation, and Norman Powell is right there with Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle as players expected to draw interest ahead of the deadline.
Powell had downplayed trade chatter before the regular season, but the noise is picking up fast as the Bulls sit at 1-6. Brooklyn’s 1-6 start has also kept Porter Jr. and Randle in the middle of the discussion.
Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer said Porter Jr. and the Nets could eventually move on from each other in 2026-27, while also framing Brooklyn as a team that may be more inclined to sell than buy.
“Brooklyn, I would still categorize as a team that is in more of a sell situation. I believe that Brooklyn will hope that a Julius Randle or a Michael Porter Jr. could still potentially draw some real returns,” Fischer said. “The Nets, they don't have their draft pick this year, and they’re looking to be better and compete in the Eastern Conference, take some strides forward in the East.”
Powell, meanwhile, is already being viewed as a likely deadline target as he settles into Chicago’s offense. Fischer pointed to the scoring bursts Powell has already shown and the kind of market that usually follows a veteran wing who can shoot and create offense.
“The Bulls did hope to bring in for on-court prowess and some veteran mentorship in Chicago, but as he continues to perform; 15 points, 25 points, 18 points, this guy's basically a career 40 percent 3-point shooter who can fill it up, an All-Star caliber scorer, who's essentially on an expiring deal,” Fischer said. “Chicago, of course, hopes that [Norman] Powell is going to draw real trade interest from around the NBA, particularly, third teams that are looking for extra scoring, and off-ball shooting punch.
“He will be getting interest without a doubt, as he's just continued to perform. The 2021 trade deadline, when Norm Powell was moved from Toronto to Portland, he had around half the league calling when he was moved.
And then, signed a new five-year deal with the Blazers. Then, was traded to the Clippers, Clippers to Miami because he was looking for a new contract.”
Fischer does not expect Powell’s next stop to come with a big long-term extension. Even so, he believes the market will still be strong for him.
“He hasn't gotten that second big long-term money deal as he's now past 30-year-old,” Fischer added. “But Norm Powell on a one-year, essentially, agreement with the team controlling that second year for next season - I think - is going to have plenty of interest around the NBA.”
Powell’s contract with Chicago is a two-year, $44 million deal, and the $22.5 million due for the 2027-28 season is a team option.
In Other News...
Nets Bench Problems Could Force Jordi Fernndez To Try Something New
Brooklyns offense has been stuck in a frustrating stretch, and the trouble has shown up most clearly when the second unit comes on the floor. Over the last three games, the Nets have averaged just 92.6 points, with key reserves Chaney Johnson, Keon Ellis and Noah Clowney all struggling to find a rhythm from the field and beyond the arc.
That slump has pushed Jordi Fernndez toward a possible change in the bench mix, and Josh Minott is the most obvious candidate to get a longer look. He flashed real promise in limited minutes, and the coaching staff may decide the best way to spark a more efficient offense is to give him a bigger role and see whether the rotation can produce a different kind of energy. [Read more 🡒]
Nets And Liberty Are Tying Brooklyn Basketball To Something Bigger
Brooklyn basketball has been showing up in places that matter well beyond the scoreboard. Through a collaboration involving the Nets, the Liberty and the Tsais Social Justice Fund, playgrounds in neighborhoods affected by gun violence have been getting a real upgrade, with new courts, backboards, benches and other amenities meant to turn worn-down spaces into something safer and more welcoming for families and kids.
City officials have taken notice, too, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura praising the effort as a way to strengthen community connection as much as recreation. The recent dedication at Fish playground in Brownsville fit that theme, another sign that the teams footprint in Brooklyn is being tied to something larger than basketball, even as the work continues in neighborhoods where the need is still very real. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Porter Jr. Gives Nets Another Late-Game Concern
Late-game execution has been a recurring issue for Brooklyn, and Michael Porter Jr. added another layer to the concern after revealing he hyperextended his left arm in the recent game against the Knicks. The injury altered how he played in the fourth quarter, when he said it affected his aggressiveness and overall style, even though he still finished with 18 points and five rebounds in 37 minutes.
For a Nets team trying to clean up communication and stop letting close games slip away, Porters health matters as much as his production. He has already indicated he should be ready for the next game against the Hornets, but Brooklyn will be watching closely to see whether the arm issue lingers and whether its closing problems can be corrected before another tight finish turns into another missed opportunity. [Read more 🡒]