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Ujiri drew a parallel between Banton’s situation and Pascal Siakam’s, emphasizing that evaluating a player’s development requires time. Ujiri had positive remarks about Banton, recognizing him as an exceptional young talent. However, he also acknowledged that Banton hadn’t fully translated his potential into consistent success on the court. Ujiri specifically mentioned Banton’s strengths as a cutter, offensive rebounder, and passer, but pointed out the need for improvement in his shooting and decision-making.
The context of the team plays into the (lack of) development from the young Raptors this season. Especially the sophomore. Toronto struggled with pace and spacing, the two key factors for Banton to showcase his skills. Despite being proficient defensively, Banton made mistakes on the gritty side of the floor and the Raptors’ defense wasn’t strong enough to compensate for Banton’s errors. In the end, that’s why he didn’t get a large enough share of the minutes.
Alongside his defense, Shooting was a significant weakness for Banton. Although he made some improvements to his shooting form, his field goal accuracy remained below average. This inconsistency hindered his contributions to the team, especially considering the existing spacing issues the Raptors faced. Banton also needed to work on his ball handling, which affected his effectiveness as a point guard. Banton was exclusively a rim scorer, and struggled to be efficacious from deep. According to Cleaning the Glass, Banton finished 78 percent of his rim efforts — the 100th percentile for his position. In comparison, he was in the 1st percentile for midrange shots.
All the weaknesses mentioned gave him limited opportunities and minutes throughout the season. Injuries further disrupted his rhythm and playing time. He had to divide his time between the Raptors and their G League affiliate, the Raptors 905, which posed a challenge in finding consistency. Despite these hurdles, Banton handled the situation professionally and remained prepared to perform whenever called upon. Looking ahead, the Raptors are determined to reclaim their reputation for player development and bounce back from the disappointing season. They recognize the need for improvement, particularly in their bench production, and prioritize internal development. Banton, as a young player with potential, is eager to embrace the challenge. He showcased his skills during the summer, leading the Canadian senior men’s national team, and believes that experience helped him stay sharp and prepared for the NBA season.
To become a rotation player, Banton has to show a wider range of skills. He needs to be able to score consistently from outside of the rim. Teams can stop him by collapsing the paint. Until he proves he can be effective from other ranges, Banton probably will continue to not see the floor as much as he’d hope.
Banton is a restricted free agent for the summer, and I’d be surprised if he isn’t brought back. He has the attributes, it’s now about becoming a more polished player on both sides of the floor — and proving it with consistency during the season. A new coach may reward Banton with more game time, which would be a step in the right direction.