Imagn
Heat
Before he was traded from the Clippers to Miami this summer, Norman Powell had begun extension talks with L.A.
“To be transparent, we were talking extension and what it would look like, and they were telling me they didn’t want to trade me, they wanted me there — all that good stuff,” Powell told Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. “But they inevitably ended up trading me.”
The Heat are reportedly open to extension talks with Powell, though any deal would likely come during the season once the team has had more time to evaluate his fit. Powell, 32, says he’s focused on basketball rather than his contract situation.
“I’m just focused on what I have to do for this team, and I know if I go out there and perform, you’re going to be rewarded,” Powell said.
If his preseason debut was any indication, that reward could be significant. In 16 minutes against Milwaukee, Powell scored 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep.
“You can see his ignitability,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I like what he can do on the drive. He can really get hot from three. I think we can definitely build on that.”
Hawks
Atlanta opened preseason play with a fast-paced loss to Houston, giving the coaching staff an early look at both ends of the spectrum.
Trae Young had a clean, efficient showing, finishing with nine points and 10 assists while shooting 50% from the field, 50% from three and 100% at the line.
“Efficiency” has been a focus for Young in camp after some up-and-down shooting in recent seasons, as relayed by Kahlil McCuller of SI.com.
Forward Jalen Johnson also stood out in his first game action since January after labrum surgery, posting 11 points, two steals and two blocks while flashing his two-way potential.
Newcomer Kristaps Porzingis, meanwhile, had a rough debut. He scored just five points on 33% shooting, missed all three of his three-point attempts, and picked up four fouls before halftime. It’s only preseason, but the early rhythm wasn’t there.
Trail Blazers
Portland has signed guard Sean Pedulla to a training camp deal, the team announced. The former Virginia Tech standout — who finished his college career at Ole Miss — averaged 15.4 points, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals last season, earning All-SEC third-team honors.
Pedulla is expected to be waived before the regular season and join the Rip City Remix as an affiliate player.
To make room on the preseason roster, the Blazers waived MarJon Beauchamp, Andrew Carr and Liam Robbins, who are also candidates to end up in the G League.
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