ShootingtheJ wrote:Banton is still the way.
Alright you got me googling who this dude is now.
Interested in why are you so enthusiastic about him as a target, and what you see us offering to entice the Trail Blazers?
On the face of it Banton seems like a young guy they’d invest in — albeit a tad older than ideal while they blow it up, and in need of a new contract:
Delano Banton's roster spot was in jeopardy, but now he's Portland's secret weapon
Banton is also the only one whose roster spot was in serious jeopardy heading into the 2024-25 season. This past offseason, the Blazers had to decide whether to pick up Banton's $2.2 million team option.
He had an impressive 30-game stretch with Portland in 2023-24, averaging 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game after the Blazers acquired him from the Boston Celtics, along with $3 million in cash considerations. In exchange, Portland sent Boston a heavily protected second-round pick that is top-55 protected in 2027, making it unlikely to convey.
Banton thrived during that 30-game audition with Portland, taking advantage of his increased opportunity as the Blazers dealt with several injuries. However, questions remained about his ability to stay impactful in a lessened role. Banton is a player who is at his best with the ball in his hands, which isn't ideal for a point guard who doesn't have strong court awareness or a reliable three-point shot (at the time).
However, as a rebuilding team with all the time in the world, the Blazers could afford to be patient with his development and see where it goes, especially for a low-risk flier of $2.2 million. The decision has already paid off quicker than expected, as Banton is playing a significant role off the bench as a two-way guard.
This season, Banton is averaging 10.5 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds on 43/39/67 shooting splits. Offensively, he's providing a much-needed scoring sparkplug for a Blazers' offense that ranks toward the bottom in offensive rating. But defensively, he's even more of a game-changer for Portland.
When Banton is on the court, Portland has a defensive rating of 113.7. That's second-best on the Blazers, behind only Donovan Clignan (112). As a team, Portland's rating is 116.2, tied for sixth-worst in the NBA. Banton is one of the lengthiest guards in the league at 6-foot-8, which allows him to switch onto multiple positions effectively and makes it so that the Blazers don't have an undersized weak link on the court in terms of mismatch hunting.
Banton is a great complementary piece to the Blazers' young core. He fits their rebuilding timeline at 25 and strengthens their team identity with his length and switchability. Just 23 games into the season, it's apparent he's already come a long way from the player battling for a roster spot in training camp.
After this season, D.B. Hooper is in store for a significantly higher contract. And the Blazers should do everything they can to keep him around.
https://ripcityproject.com/blazers-player-spot-jeopardy-now-secret-weapon
