dunk against the Indiana Pacers that saw him intercept a pass meant for Paul George, go the length of the court by himself and launch himself just inside the free-throw line for a slam that tied a pivotal Game 5 in the first round of the playoffs.struck again
The extension was due to kick in until the 2018-19 campaign, making 2017-18 a potentially big year for Powell to build some momentum. But when offered the keys to the car, Powell had difficulty getting out of neutral as he struggled starting the first 12 games of that season, shooting just 40.9 per cent from the field before being sidelined with a hip pointer for four games where he lost his starting job and went into a tailspin he never recovered from.
Kawhi Leonard is no longer around with a veteran trio of Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka all on expiring contracts, making each of them possible trade bait. Additionally, this Raptors club has added a ton of new faces who appear to be either looking for a fresh start somewhere new or might just be reclamation projects that Toronto has shown a penchant for taking on in the past — i.e. Lowry.
Though still only 26, Powell is the second-longest-tenured Raptor on the team, having spent the last four seasons in Toronto, experience that could give his words extra weight.blocking him on the depth chart, Powell’s also in line to play a lot more this season than he has in the past. And it isn’t just Powell, either, it’ll be the entire team. Without Leonard, the Raptors, in general, are lacking in star power with Lowry getting up in age and the relative newness of Pascal Siakam’s emergence as a possible star player. Therefore, like Raptors days of old, next season’s group is going to have to be a scrappy one to prove the doubters wrong.