Pacific Notes: Powell, Russell, Lakers, Durant, Huerter

The Cutting machines‘ compensation for Paul George seems to be Norman Powell through the early part of the 2024/25 season, This is written by The Athletic’s Law Murray. In a recent win over George’s Sixers, Powell hit six threes en route to 26 points.

After never averaging more than 19.0 points per game into a season heading into 2024/25, Powell is putting up 25.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists so far on a scorching .516/.494/.861 shooting line.

“I have always imagined being in this position and would like to have the opportunity,” Powell said Wednesday night. “Learned from when I was in Toronto with Kyle (Lowry) and DeMar (DeRozan), learned from Dame (Lillard) and CJ (McCollum), learned from PG and Kawhi (Leonard). Being around those top guys and just getting games and knowledge from them in the summer. Goes up to them, fights and just wants it.“

Powell was acquired by the Clippers from the Trail Blazers at the 2022 trade deadline and is in the fourth year of a five-year, $90MM contract he signed with Portland. He is on the books for $19.2MM this season and $20.5MM next year.

Powell, who finished fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting in each of his two full seasons in Los Angeles, averaged 15.3 points on 10.9 shots per game. match during that stretch. Through the early part of this season, he is taking 17.4 field goal attempts per game in the wake of George’s departure.

“I saw it as addition by subtraction,” Powell said at Clippers media day about George’s exit. “I was excited. I think what I’ve said in this media day every single year since I’ve been here is that I want to be the first guard and the opportunity is in front of me. I prepared myself. I’ve always seen myself as a starter in this league. I feel like I put in the work. I feel like the numbers show themselves when I start and what the output is. So I’m excited to take on that role and the pressure that comes with it. The good, the bad and the ugly.“

In a similar passage, Janis Carr of The Orange County Register details Powell’s quest for perfection. Powell recorded his first career double-double on Friday with 31 points and 12 rebounds.

“I have my own mentality and approach to the game, like nothing really changes no matter what role I’m in. I’ve said it several times,” Powell said. “I have high expectations of myself. I always see myself as a starter, as a top guy in the league that can come out and help any team win no matter where I am.“

We have more from the Pacific Division:

• When we conveyed Friday, Cam Reddish train D’Angelo Russell‘s place in Lakers‘ starts five. Russell was moved to the bench last season when the team also began to lose, but his connection with the coach at the time Darwin Ham suffered, Dave McMenamin writes for ESPN. This time with JJ Redick As the coach of the team, Russell approaches the situation with a different mentality. “I left all that, all my baggage at the door this summer when we changed coaches and new staff came in,” Russell said. “I was committed to whatever it takes. That’s what you all see now.”
• The Lakers expected to be active on the trade market after a 5-4 start with a 24th-ranked defense, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report relays. Fischer names Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez and Washington’s Jonas Valanciunas as two targets on LA’s “internal board” with Russell potentially available as outgoing salary.
• The Sun lets loose Kevin Durant by allowing him to embrace coach Mike Budenholzer‘s three-point heavy approach, This is written by Gerald Bourguet from PHNX Sports. Durant has helped lead the Suns to an 8-1 record to begin the year, averaging 27.6 PPG on .553/.429/.836 shooting. He is also averaging 5.0 points per game. game in clutch minutes, making 63.2% of his field goals in those situations.
• As Durant’s star power propels forward Sunthey get another lift in Royce O’Nealeplay, The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin writes. O’Neale is shooting 52.6% on three-pointers so far this season, first off the bench, and Rankin writes that he looks like an early sixth man of the year candidate. O’Neale signed a four-year contract last season.
• Kings guard Kevin Huerter missed two games due to an illness last week and FOX40’s Sean Cunningham tweets that he is still feeling the effects after returning. Huerter is averaging 10.4 PPG for the Kings and has played two games since returning to the team.