Banton shows ‘he’s a real player’
Former Raptors guard makes the most of opportunity with Trail Blazers
Dalano Banton was relaxing at his Boston apartment on a February afternoon when his phone rang. It was Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, and the former Raptors guard knew what that meant.
About 20 minutes before the NBA deadline at 3 p.m., Banton was told he was being traded for the first time: to the Portland Trail Blazers for a heavily protected secondround draft pick.
The Rexdale native wasn’t surprised. He knew being flipped from the Celtics, a deep contender in the East, was a real possibility. The 24year-old Banton had signed a twoyear, $4.2-million (U.S.) deal with a team option in Boston last summer after his hometown Raptors declined to extend a qualifying offer last June, making him a free agent.
He made the most of the opportunity in Portland.
Banton averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 29.2 minutes a game with the Trail Blazers, and played more minutes in 30 games than he did in 119 combined with Toronto and Boston. He scored 20 or more points nine times with Portland, including a 25-point performance in a 128-118 overtime victory over the Raptors in early March.
After the trade was official, his first question was if he’d get the chance to play. In Boston, he was averaging 2.3 points and 7.1 minutes through 24 contests.
“I got to talk to Joe Cronin, our GM here. He told me early on the phone that I’d have a great opportunity here to be aggressive and show what I can do,” Banton told the Star.
It was the opportunity he’d been waiting for, with his third NBA team in three seasons.
“I think everyone wants the chance to show what they can do and make a name for themselves,” Banton said. “I just looked at it that way. I know I’ve been sitting on the bench for three years in this league. I know that time was of the essence in my third year.
“I’m not saying I didn’t have an opportunity at other places; I just never made the most of it.”
Portland was intrigued by Banton’s size and potential as a six-footnine point guard. A rebuilding Blazers team riddled with injuries — a list that included Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Malcolm Brogdan and Matisse Thybulle — and eyeing the draft lottery was in a unique spot to take a chance.
Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups admitted he didn’t know much about Banton’s game before the trade, but told the Star he’s been “proud of him” since then.
“From where we got him at, him kind of never being able to play in Boston, the G League back and forth, what he’s done has not been easy,” said Billups. “What he’s actually done is prove to the world, prove to the league, every team that he’s a real player. He’s an NBA player.”
The expectation is that the Blazers will pick up Banton’s $2.2-million team option for next season.
“Dude coming off the bench scoring 30, bro,” laughed veteran Trail Blazers centre Deandre Ayton. “That s--t ain’t easy to do at all. He did it on a consistent basis, too, in front of us. He has a little swag, too ... he’s quiet, but he’s deadly.”
Banton’s strong finish has also put him on Canada’s radar ahead of this summer’s Paris Olympics.
The national program did reach out last summer before the FIBA World Cup, but Banton had just signed with Boston and wanted to focus on earning a roster spot there. He played for Canada at the FIBA AmeriCup in 2022 and said he’s “definitely” interested in suiting up again.
“The Olympics, guys dream of this,” said Banton. “It’s an opportunity a lot of Canadians don’t want to pass up if you do play basketball. There’s only a certain amount of spots, so guys gotta work for their spots … I’m ready to go compete for a spot, for sure.”