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 course of his rookie contract in an efficient wage dump. Whereas Springer’s arrival — carrying defensive promise and youth — drew a lot of the protection and a focus final month, Boston quietly made a corresponding transfer to keep up roster flexibility and save tax cash, buying and selling Dalano Banton to Portland for a second-round choose (virtually sure to not convey).
“I wasn’t bummed,” Banton advised CLNS Media/CelticsBlog on Wednesday earlier than his Blazers confronted the Hawks. “It’s the NBA. It’s the enterprise aspect of issues. You’ve gotta be capable of push by way of issues that come your approach. We all know how it’s as gamers, so it’s nothing to be bummed about … it was an incredible alternative (in Boston), nice group. Want them the perfect and thank them for serving to me put together for my alternative right here.”
Banton began and unloaded one among 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 large numbers. Between Boston and Portland, his minutes elevated by 20 per recreation, he’s taking 11.3 extra shot makes an attempt every night time and unloading over 5 threes after averaging 0.7 per look with the Celtics.
“He’s at all times been gifted,” Derrick White stated on Thursday. “A man that may rating the ball in many various methods. He’s getting an opportunity to point out 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 robust, the place you’re at, your position and your alternative. He was at all times working exhausting and he was prepared for it.”
“Not each state of affairs is identical. Clearly, what we requested him to do right here was not to try this, and clearly, no matter is his state of affairs in Portland is, they’re asking him to do one thing like that. So that you simply gotta perceive your position, perceive your state of affairs. He performed nicely for us when he bought his time and he’s enjoying nicely for them.”
The Celtics tried to search out pockets, together with a spot begin at Philadelphia, to combine Banton in a crowded again courtroom 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 display extra usually enjoying 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 appeared 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 can be when Portland progresses in its rebuild. The Blazers have a chance to select up his second-year $2.2 million crew possibility Boston initially acquired within the contract. He turns 25 subsequent season.
“He’s a scorer,” Billups stated. “Clearly, you guys are seeing him play with different guys which can be actual position gamers. So, I don’t suppose 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’ve gotten a full deck and you’ve got everyone 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 point out that they’ll play and that they belong, that’s precisely what he’s performed. He’s been a pleasing shock. He’s a lot better than I even thought he was. I’ve solely coached in opposition to 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 large, respectively, within the playoffs for the primary time.
Buying Springer confirmed the crew’s need 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 favored the concept of using in small playoff conditions, he brings much less dimension and positional versatility than Banton did at 6’8.
It’s too early to say if dumping the latter will value Boston, extra targeted on its championship pursuit than the lengthy haul, nevertheless it might present some warning in opposition to transferring on from a younger participant too quickly. Aaron Nesmith emerged in an identical method at Indiana and the Celtics by no means crammed their fifteenth roster spot.
“I don’t know if I agree that each participant can play like that (with alternative),” Kristaps Porzingis stated on Thursday. “Dalano undoubtedly has the expertise. A number of it’s confidence, realizing that in case you make two errors in a row, you’re not gonna come out. It’s not that top strain crew. Right here, he has a bit bit extra freedom, I feel. That provides him the boldness 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 undoubtedly good to see him completely happy and having fun with basketball like this, and simply enjoying free.”