Trail Blazers News: Young Portland Trade Acquisition Unpacks Breakout Run

Alex Kirschenbaum | Apr 10, 2024

Apr 1, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner shoots the ball over center Deandre Ayton and guard Dalano Banton. / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Dalano Banton, considered something of an afterthought when he was acquired by Rip City from the Boston Celtics midseason, has blossomed into a real problem for opposing teams with his new club. To be fair, he's playing big minutes on a tanking team that's missing a lot of guard depth, but the jumbo-sized floor leader out of Nebraska (he's 6'9"!) has looked great in Portland nevertheless.

In his 28 games with the Blazers (seven starts), he's averaging 16.3 points on a .423/.348/.765 slash line, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks per contest.

“I feel like there’s a lot of guys in the league who don’t have that opportunity that may be able to show what they can do if they get the opportunity,” Banton said recently, per Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “But, I feel like just trying to stay ready, trusting in the work. Every day, you have to wake up and be a professional.”

Weiss notes that, on a veteran-laden Boston Celtics team to start the year, Banton struggled to carve out consistent bench minutes. He averaged just 2.3 points and 1.5 rebounds in 24 games with the East's best team (by record), in 7.1 minutes per.

“It’s hard man,” Banton said. “When you go in and not knowing how much shots you’re going to get or not knowing where the shot’s going to come from or how it’s going to look. Finally (you) get open, sometimes you get the ball, man, it feels like glass if you haven’t played in a minute. It’s just, it feels crazy sometimes.”

“Playing alongside guys who are very talented, superstars in the NBA, helps you learn a lot,” Banton said of his Boston tenure. “You know, help slow the game down for you when you finally get your opportunity to play. I feel like I was put into a position where I got to see things happen before I ever got a chance to play. So I was just marinating there with a great team.”

“Just stay the course. I mean, everyone has a different story,” Banton said. “Everyone has a different way around the league and how it turns out for them. But I’m just trusting the work that you put in. But that’s it man, just gotta keep grinding. Keep grinding.”

The Trail Blazers possess a minimum team option on Banton for the 2024-25 season. Given his recent play and the team's investment in exploring every intriguing young asset, it seems like a foregone conclusion that he'll get to ply his wares in the Pacific Northwest for at least one more year.