Heat
The Miami Heat are leaving the door open to in-season extension talks with guard Norman Powell, who arrived from the Los Angeles Clippers this summer. Powell, 32, said negotiations with the Clippers had started before the trade.
“We were talking extension and what it would look like, and they were telling me they didn’t want to trade me,” Powell told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “But they inevitably ended up trading me.”
Miami plans to evaluate Powell’s on-court fit before pursuing any deal. The veteran, meanwhile, is focusing on performance rather than contract status. “If I go out there and perform, you’re going to be rewarded,” he said.
Powell’s first preseason appearance offered an early glimpse: 18 points in 16 minutes against Milwaukee on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. “He can really get hot from three,” coach Erik Spoelstra noted.
Hawks
Atlanta opened its preseason with a high-tempo loss to Houston, providing coaches an early snapshot. Trae Young finished with nine points and 10 assists while hitting 50% from the field, 50% from three and all his free throws—efficiency the guard has emphasized in camp, according to SI.com.
Forward Jalen Johnson impressed in his first action since January labrum surgery, tallying 11 points, two steals and two blocks. Newly acquired big man Kristaps Porzingis struggled, scoring five points on 33% shooting, missing all three three-point attempts and picking up four fouls before halftime.
Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers signed guard Sean Pedulla to a training-camp contract. 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 and earned All-SEC third-team recognition.
Pedulla is expected to be waived before opening night and join the Rip City Remix as an affiliate player. To clear roster space, Portland released MarJon Beauchamp, Andrew Carr and Liam Robbins, all of whom remain G League options.
Source: Hoops Wire
