Raptors: Grading Scottie Barnes and the rookies after preseason
By Mike Luciano
Dalano Banton
Banton came out of Nebraska as a complete question mark. No one knew his best position given his 6-9 frame, slinky frame, and substandard shooting. While he didn’t turn into Steph Curry, he started to look like he can be a valuable perimeter piece given what his style of play looked like in the preseason.
Batum averaged 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, showing that he can be an impact on the glass. On top of his passing, Banton showed the defense that made him such a coveted prospect. He even banked in a very deep 3-pointer for good measure against the Rockets.
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Dalano Banton is a worthwhile project for the Toronto Raptors.
Banton made just 14.3% of his 3-point attempts, a continuation of his poor shooting from Nebraska. In addition, he had a chance to usurp Malachi Flynn due to the San Diego State alum’s poor play up until the final game, but some uneven games on offense combined with Flynn’s sensational game against the Wizards nullified that effort.
Ultimately, the Raptors really didn’t learn anything new about Banton in the preseason. They knew he was a long defender that can make good passes and crash the boards, albeit with some major shooting concerns, and that’s exactly what he played like in the preseason. Hopefully, he works on his shot over the course of the 2021-22 campaign.
Grade: B