In adding oversized third-year point guard Dalano Banton (he's 6'9") through a trade deadline deal with the Boston Celtics last month, all your Portland Trail Blazers had to give up was a top-55 protected 2027 second round draft selection swap (i.e. a fairly meaningless pick unlikely to convey), per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
For their trouble, they were awarded $3 million in cash considerations from the Eastern Conference-leading Celts (they're 46-12 as of this writing, eight wins ahead of the second- and third-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks), Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report relays. The deal appears to have been done by Boston to cut costs at a position of relative strength.
Across his six contests for the Blazers so far, Banton has put up his best numbers ever, averaging 8.8 points on 41.9% field goal shooting and 61.9% free throw shooting, along with 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.5 steals a night.
The Trail Blazers possess a team option for Banton worth $2.2 million next season, according to Rory Maher of Hoops Rumors.
He's not much of a jump shooter, and for a point guard his awareness isn't quite ready just yet. But the 15-42 Blazers have nothing but time, and can certainly afford to wait for the 24-year-old to develop.
More must-reads: