ATLANTA — The Celtics and 76ers stunned many earlier than the commerce deadline by swinging a deal that despatched guard prospect Jaden Springer between the rivals in the midst of his rookie contract in an efficient wage dump. Whereas Springer’s arrival — carrying defensive promise and youth — drew many of the protection and a focus final month, Boston quietly made a corresponding transfer to take care of roster flexibility and save tax cash, buying and selling Dalano Banton to Portland for a second-round decide (nearly sure to not convey).
“I wasn’t bummed,” Banton informed CLNS Media/CelticsBlog on Wednesday earlier than his Blazers confronted the Hawks. “It’s the NBA. It’s the enterprise facet of issues. You’ve gotta have the ability to push by means of issues that come your manner. We all know how it’s as gamers, so it’s nothing to be bummed about … it was a terrific alternative (in Boston), nice group. Want them one of the best and thank them for serving to me put together for my alternative right here.”
Banton began and unloaded considered one of his most dominant performances as a professional in a loss to the Hawks. He scored 31 factors in 37 minutes, shot 13-for-23, hit 5 threes in 11 tries whereas posting 5 rebounds, 9 assists and a pair of steals. In twenty-two video games with Portland, he’s averaging 15.7 factors, 4.5 rebounds and three.1 assists, capturing 43.2% from the sphere and 36.2% from three.
Scores of Blazers accidents, together with to former Celtic Malcolm Brogdon, gave Banton free rein on the level guard place. An apparent consider his massive numbers. Between Boston and Portland, his minutes elevated by 20 per sport, he’s taking 11.3 extra shot makes an attempt every evening and unloading over 5 threes after averaging 0.7 per look with the Celtics.
“He’s all the time been gifted,” Derrick White mentioned on Thursday. “A man that may rating the ball in many various methods. He’s getting an opportunity to indicate that for everyone else. It’s good to see him going on the market, being aggressive and displaying that world what he can do. The NBA is sort of powerful, the place you’re at, your function and your alternative. He was all the time working exhausting and he was prepared for it.”
“Not each scenario is identical. Clearly, what we requested him to do right here was not to try this, and clearly, no matter is his scenario in Portland is, they’re asking him to do one thing like that. So that you simply gotta perceive your function, perceive your scenario. He performed effectively for us when he acquired his time and he’s taking part in effectively for them.”
The Celtics tried to seek out pockets, together with a spot begin at Philadelphia, to combine Banton in a crowded again court docket and ahead place after signing him to a two-year flier final summer time. He participated in Summer time League, confirmed as much as Boston early to be taught the offseason and the right way to display extra usually taking part in off-ball. Early preseason outcomes confirmed promise, however he struggled immensely to place the ball within the basket when the common season started — capturing 37.3% from the sphere and 12.5% from three.
Former Toronto head coach Nick Nurse commented early this season how some days he regarded nice, and others not a lot. Even his present head coach Chauncey Billups admitted this statistical output most likely isn’t an correct depiction on who Banton will likely be when Portland progresses in its rebuild. The Blazers have a chance to choose up his second-year $2.2 million workforce possibility Boston initially acquired within the contract. He turns 25 subsequent season.
“He’s a scorer,” Billups mentioned. “Clearly, you guys are seeing him play with different guys which can be actual function gamers. So, I don’t assume that is Dalano, the place he’s getting 28 and 30 and 26 (factors), however he’s able to doing that. Guys like him, when you could have a full deck and you’ve got all people on the market, you don’t have these kind of alternatives, however he’s a man that may come off the bench and get scorching for you … it’s guys like that who sit on these benches for a very long time that lastly get a chance to indicate that they’ll play and that they belong, that’s precisely what he’s accomplished. He’s been a pleasing shock. He’s a lot better than I even thought he was. I’ve solely coached towards him a couple of instances and people have been spot minutes.”
Payton Pritchard equally emerged late this season with expanded alternative (17.7 PPG, 7.7 APG, 51.3% FG, 45.2% 3PT final 6) after signing a four-year extension. Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet will look to show they’ll carry out as a depth wing and massive, respectively, within the playoffs for the primary time.
Buying Springer confirmed the workforce’s want to develop cheaper younger expertise deeper on the roster. Whereas early in his integration into Boston’s system, receiving equally restricted alternatives to Banton, Springer continued his offensive struggles from Philadelphia throughout 13 Celtics appearances (6-18 FG, 0-7 3PT).
Boston assigned him to Maine whereas they performed in Atlanta on Tuesday, and he scored 26 factors on 11-for-18 capturing (1-2 3PT). Whereas he brings extra defensive promise, the Celtics would possibly’ve appreciated the concept of using in small playoff conditions, he brings much less measurement and positional versatility than Banton did at 6’8.
It’s too early to say if dumping the latter will price Boston, extra targeted on its championship pursuit than the lengthy haul, but it surely may present some warning towards shifting on from a younger participant too quickly. Aaron Nesmith emerged in an identical method at Indiana and the Celtics by no means stuffed their fifteenth roster spot.
“I don’t know if I agree that each participant can play like that (with alternative),” Kristaps Porzingis mentioned on Thursday. “Dalano positively has the expertise. A whole lot of it’s confidence, figuring out that when you make two errors in a row, you’re not gonna come out. It’s not that prime stress workforce. Right here, he has a bit of bit extra freedom, I feel. That provides him the arrogance to go on the market, strive new stuff, be aggressive and he has the expertise to do these sort of issues and have these sort of video games. So it’s positively good to see him comfortable and having fun with basketball like this, and simply taking part in free.”