PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Trail Blazers exercised the team option on the contract of guard Dalano Banton, the team announced Saturday.
Banton, who came to the Blazers in a trade-deadline deal last season, exceeded expectations, averaging 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 30 games for Portland. The 6-foot-9 guard wasn't very efficient, shooting 40.8% from the field and 31.1% from the 3-point line, but played well enough to convince Portland to keep him around.
Before coming to the Blazers, Banton played for the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics. He averaged 3.7 points in 95 games with the Raptors over two seasons and 2.3 points in 24 games with the Celtics.
Banton's contract isn't fully guaranteed. Picking up the option on Saturday guaranteed Banton $200,000 of his $2.196,970 salary for the 2024-25 season. He has two more guarantee dates in his contract. If he's still on the team on opening night, he's guaranteed $1,009,853, and his contract becomes fully guaranteed on Jan. 10, 2024.
If the Blazers make moves during the offseason that necessitate clearing roster space, the team could waive Banton before the season starts without guaranteeing the rest of his contract.
Other Blazers notes
- The Blazers also brought back Justin Minaya on a two-way contract, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. A 6-5 small forward, Minaya averaged 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in 34 games last season with the Blazers.
- Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report wrote that he expects 7-1 center Ibou Badji to also return to Portland on a two-way contract. Badji averaged 1.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 22 games last season with the Blazers.
- Quinn Ellis, a 6-4 guard, will join the Blazers for summer league, according to Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress, who writes that Ellis "is coming off a very strong season with Trento in Serie A and EuroCup" and is "among the undrafted free agent market's top prospects."
- Jacky Qui, a 6-8 wing and graduate of the NBA Global Academy, agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Blazers, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN. He played for Guangzhou in the Chinese CBA and participated in a predraft workout with Portland.
