Norman Powell entered Oct. 28 searching for a performance that reflected his All-Star status. He'd shot 11-of-41 from the field through the Chicago Bulls' first three games and his 20 points against the Boston Celtics came in a 35-point loss.
Thankfully, Powell went off for 30 points on on 66.7 percent shooting from the field against the New York Knicks on Oct. 28. Unfortunately, he took a surprisingly low number of shots and reaffirmed why he'll likely be traded by the deadline.
Powell signing with the Bulls was a surprising development considering he was an All-Star in 2025-26 and Chicago is in the midst of a rebuild. He agreed to a two-year deal with a second-year team option, however, which is an easily tradable contract.
With a core that's being built around 20-year-old Caleb Wilson, 22-year-old Matas Buzelis, and 24-year-old Josh Giddey, the 33-year-old Powell seems destined to be traded this season.
The Bulls did little to prove otherwise when Powell scored 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting in a 130-127 loss to the New York Knicks. No, 15 field goal attempts isn't technically a low amount, but context is crucial and he was easily the hottest player on the team. Even still, he wasn't exactly featured,
Perhaps it's nothing more than a cast of new teammates learning each others' tendencies, but Powell's big night seemed to further prove that he won't be in Chicago for long.
Norman Powell drops 30 points, yet it's clear he isn't here to stay
Powell's 15 shot attempts were second to Wilson's 17, which is to be expected on the average night. What doesn't make quite as much sense is the fact that Powell was far and away the hottest scorer and shooter on the team, yet Chicago wasn't actively getting him shots.
Powell deserves credit for attempting five shots during the fourth quarter, but he'd scored 23 points on just 10 attempts through the first three.
It's possible that Powell just wanted to turn in a positive shooting night after his quiet start to the season and was content to end the night with confidence. The priorities on offense appeared to not only be Wilson, but the young core in general, including big man Jalen Smith.
It all spoke to the reality that the Bulls aren't currently in a position to compete for a spot in the playoffs and are instead developing a group that may not be ready for at least another full season.
Perhaps the intention is for Powell to spend the year in Chicago and then for the Bulls to decide if it's ideal to bring him back. It's simply hard to imagine a 33-year-old at the peak of their career prioritizing this situation over a chance to contend when there's undoubtedly interest in his elite jump shot, scoring prowess, and postseason experience.
It's been a bizarre situation from the very moment that Powell signed with the Bulls, but having the hottest hand in a competitive game and turning in a fairly low-volume night sure looks like a sign that he'll be traded come February.
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