Dalano

Banton

Banton benefitted from Anfernee Simons missing another game. He came off the bench and had 23 points in 25 minutes. He was efficient as he took 19 shots to get there, but it was a solid performance late in the week as a streamer. Fantasy managers will certainly take it.

Simons will remain sidelined for another game, meaning Scoot Henderson will retain his place in the starting lineup. He’s worth streaming while Simons sits, while Dalano Banton is more of a “dart throw” due to his inconsistent minutes.

Chauncey Billups said that Simons is back at practice after staying home for a few days, but neither player is expected to be available. That likely means another start for both Scoot Henderson and Donovan Clingan, with both Dalano Banton and Robert Williams (assuming he is available) playing large roles off the bench.

Simons exited early with a chest injury on Tuesday, but it is an illness that will hold him out on Wednesday. Either Scoot Henderson or Dalano Banton will start in his place, though both should take on extra minutes with Simons sidelined.

While some of Banton’s most prominent moments have occurred during the fourth quarter of games, Portland needed him to step up in the first on Tuesday. With Anfernee Simons (chest) done for the night and Scoot Henderson (14/4/2/3 with two 3-pointers in 21 minutes) picking up three quick fouls, Banton entered the game and promptly made his first four 3-point attempts. While he wouldn’t make another shot, that production gave Portland a boost. If Simons misses time, deep-league managers should strongly consider streaming Banton.

Initially believed to be dealing with a hand injury, Simons’ chest prompted his departure from Tuesday’s game during the first quarter. He’s since been ruled out for the rest of the night, which means more opportunities for Scoot Henderson and Dalano Banton. Banton, who entered after Henderson picked up three fouls in three minutes, made his first four 3-point attempts.

As the saying goes, “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.” After not playing during the first three quarters of Monday’s game, Banton came off the bench and wasted no time putting up points. He scored 20 in the fourth, moving his total to 32 fourth-quarter points over the last two games. That isn’t enough to make Banton a player worth rostering in deep leagues, but maybe Chauncey Billups will give him a look before the fourth quarter in Portland’s next game.

It’s only the preseason, but Henderson’s continued inefficiency is concerning. In addition to the poor shooting, he was responsible for a game-high seven turnovers. With Anfernee Simons still sidelined, it will be Scoot’s show to run for the foreseeable future. But if the turnover issues carry over into the regular season, don’t be surprised if Dalano Banton (11/4/5/2/2 with two 3-pointers in 27 minutes figures more prominently in the guard rotation.

Acquired from the Celtics at the February trade deadline (Boston received a trade exception), Banton’s play was one of the few positives for the Trail Blazers last season. In his 30 games with Portland, the 2021 second-round pick averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 1.9 3-pointers in 29.2 minutes. It should be noted that, by that point in the season, Portland had been decimated by injuries, freeing up additional minutes for Banton. Regardless of how the opportunities came about, he did enough with them to get his contract guaranteed for next season.

Banton moved into the starting unit in place of Scoot Henderson, who sat out the finale. Banton has played really well over the past two months, but he couldn’t get anything going in this game. He missed all 15 of his shots from beyond the arc before he was ejected after picking up a Flagrant 2. It has been an excellent stretch for Banton, and this certainly isn’t the way that he wanted to end the season. Portland can still exercise his option and retain him for about $2 million next season, so he wasn’t fighting for a pay day.