Blazers Free Agent Drawing Interest From Overseas Team

Apr 6, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) goes up for a dunk against Portland Trail Blazers guard Dalano Banton (5) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images | Soobum Im-Imagn Images

A key Portland Trail Blazers free agent, who enjoyed two solid seasons at the Rose Garden, may have to look beyond the NBA for his next pro playing opportunity.

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Sotiris Vetakis of SDNA.gr reports that Greek club Olympiacos is eyeing former Portland point guard/point forward Dalano Banton.

🚨LIVE: Ο NBAer με τον οποίο μιλάει ο #olympiacosbc τα πρώτα δείγματα από τα φιλικά, τα νέα από το… ιατρικό δελτίο του #paobc και το ιστορικό ταξίδι του στην Αυστραλία όπου προσφέρει χαρά και περηφάνια στην ομογένεια!

Τα συμπεράσματα από τα τελικά τεστ κι ο παίκτης που βλέπει…

— Sh⭕t Vetakis (@TheShot71) September 20, 2025

As Dario Skleretic of Sportando writes, Olympiacos guard Keenan Evans suffered an ailment, compelling the club to look into alternative options on the free agent market.

Still, it's a bit surprising that Banton already has to look abroad for his next playing opportunity.

The 6-foot-9 Nebraska product, still just 25, enjoyed what looked like a breakout run upon being traded to Portland from the Boston Celtics at the 2024 trade deadline. During his first 30 games with the Trail Blazers to close out the season (including eight starts), Banton averaged an encouraging 16.7 points on .408/.311/.780 shooting splits, 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks per.

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With a healthier backcourt ahead of him last, Banton saw his minutes reduced from 29.2 in 2023-24 to 16.7 in 2024-25. Across 67 contests (seven starts) last year, Banton averaged 8.3 points on .391/.324/.728 shooting splits, 2.4 dimes, 2.0 boards, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks per.

It didn't make much sense for Banton to return to Portland in 2025-26. The Trail Blazers traded Anfernee Simons to obtain two-time All-Star combo guard Jrue Holiday and inked nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard to a three-year deal.

Granted, Lillard will be unavailable for most or all of the season recovering from an Achilles tendon tear, but certainly by 2026-27, Holiday, Lillard, and young guns Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson will all be jockeying for significant rotation minutes.

Banton's Future Abroad

Now, Banton may have to ply his trade abroad, with most rosters appearing settled to the point where the 2023 Sixth Man of the Year — ex-Trail Blazers point guard Malcolm Brogdon — had to sign an Exhibit 9 training camp deal and former All-Stars Russell Westbrook and Ben Simmons remain unsigned.

Then again, injuries are a frequent issue in the league, and someone else's bad luck could be Banton's gain.

For more news and notes on the Portland Trail Blazers, visit Portland Trail Blazers on SI.