Bulls land Jamaican star Powell in $45m power move

ILLINOIS, United States:

The Chicago Bulls have secured a major backcourt upgrade, agreeing to terms with veteran shooting guard and Jamaican international Norman Powell on a two-year, US$45 million contract, league sources confirmed on Thursday.

The deal, which includes a team option for the second year, brings the 33-year-old first-time All-Star to the ‘Windy City’ after a career-best campaign with the Miami Heat.

Powell, who earned his maiden National Basketball League (NBA) All-Star nod last season, averaged 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, proving he remains one of the most efficient players in the league.

While Powell’s star has risen in South Beach, his championship pedigree was forged north of the border. The University of California, Los Angeles, product spent the first five-plus seasons of his professional career with the Toronto Raptors, where he evolved from a promising rookie into a key playoff contributor.

Over that stretch, he averaged 9.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. But his crowning achievement came in 2019, when he helped the Raptors capture the franchise’s first and only NBA title.

Bulls front office executives finalised the agreement with Powell’s representatives, Jason Glushon and Khalid McCaskill of Glushon Sports Management.

The signing addresses Chicago’s need for perimeter scoring and veteran leadership as the team looks to climb the Eastern Conference standings.