Trail Blazers Exercise Dalano Banton’s $2.2M Option For 2024-25 Season

The Portland Trail Blazers are picking up guard Dalano Banton’s $2.2 million club option for the 2024-25 season, per sources. This is part of the two-year, $4.2 million deal he signed with the Boston Celtics in July 2023.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Dalano Banton averaged career-high numbers after Boston Celtics trade

In 54 games (nine starts) split between the Celtics and Trail Blazers this past season, Banton averaged career highs of 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 19.4 minutes per game.

The third-year guard also shot 40.4% from the field and career bests of 29.6% from 3-point range and 78.3% at the free throw line. His usage percentage (25.7%) was also a career high.

In February, the Celtics traded Banton to Portland for $3 million cash and a 2027 second-round pick. The second-rounder is the least favorable of the Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans’ pick.

It should be noted that Banton averaged just 2.3 points per game in 24 contests with Boston last season. After the trade, he averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 boards, 3.6 assists, and 29.2 minutes in 30 appearances with Portland.

Dalano stepped up during the absences of Anfernee Simons, Scoot Henderson, Malcolm Brogdon, and other players

On Feb. 10, Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups praised the 6-foot-9 guard after he made his debut against New Orleans. Banton recorded 12 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two turnovers in 28 minutes off the bench.

“I thought he was really good. Like I said, he’s a basketball player, he’s got a lot of feel,” Billups said of Banton, who finished 5-of-14 (35.7%) shooting from the field. “He can feel the game, he can play multiple positions.

“Him handling the ball, he’s really good at it. Again, he doesn’t even know anything that we’re trying to do, to be honest with you, so I thought Dalano was really good in his minutes today.”

More importantly, Dalano exceeded expectations during a time when the Trail Blazers were without Anfernee Simons, Scoot Henderson, Malcolm Brogdon, Shaedon Sharpe, Duop Reath, Robert Williams III.

Only Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton returned to the lineup. Despite an injury-riddled roster, Banton helped Portland finish the season 21-61 (.256). It was the Trail Blazers’ first season without Damian Lillard since 2011-12.

The Trail Blazers traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in September 2023.

In Portland’s 120-106 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on March 27, 2024, Banton notched a career-high 31 points on 13-of-23 (56.5%) shooting from the floor and 5-of-11 (45.5%) from deep in 36 minutes off the bench.