Trail Blazers' Duop Reath: Posts 14 points in finale
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Reath finished Sunday's 121-82 loss to the Kings with 14 points (5-12 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, three steals and one block across 24 minutes.
Though Deandre Ayton (back) sat out the season finale, Reath wasn't called upon to start at center, as the Trail Blazers instead moved Moses Brown up to the top unit. Brown ended up playing just 15 minutes, however, with Reath instead seeing the most usage of any Portland center. The 27-year-old rookie closed the 2023-24 campaign with averages of 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 three-pointers, 1.0 assists, 0.6 blocks and 0.5 steals in 17.9 minutes per game over 68 appearances while serving as Ayton's top backup for most of the season. Both Ayton and Reath are under contract for the upcoming season, but it's unclear if Portland will head into 2024-25 with Reath as the primary backup. Robert Williams is on Portland's books through 2025-26 and had been earmarked for the backup center role before he underwent season-ending surgery in November to reconstruct a torn ligament in his right knee. Williams is expected to be fully healthy in time for training camp, and he could push Reath back down to third on the depth chart.
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Trail Blazers' Dalano Banton: Drops 17 points in finale
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Banton racked up 17 points (6-26 FG, 0-15 3Pt, 5-6 FT), three rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 39 minutes before getting ejected from Sunday's 121-82 loss to the Kings.
Banton came back to earth in the final game of the season, but there's no denying his prolific stat lines in the closing weeks. Portland has a $2.2M team option for next season, and Banton's standout play may compel the organization to pick it up.
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Trail Blazers' Kris Murray: Grabs 18 rebounds in final game
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Murray closed Sunday's 121-82 loss to the Kings with nine points (3-15 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 18 rebounds, one block and one steal across 44 minutes.
Murray was the only recent starter to play in the season finale, and he set a career high with 18 rebounds in the blowout loss. the Iowa product may not have had many opportunities to impress during his rookie season, but Portland's bevy of injuries throughout 2023-24 allowed the first-round pick to strut his stuff. There's little doubt he'll play a major role in Portland's continuing youth rebuild.
Banton was ejected from Sunday's game against the Kings after receiving a Flagrant 2 foul with 3:30 left in the fourth quarter, Sean Cunningham of Fox 40 Sacramento reports.
An abysmal shooting performance proceeded Banton's ejection, as he cemented himself in Trail Blazer history by becoming the first player to attempt 15 three-pointers without a make. Despite the disappointing end to the campaign, Banton made his mark and may have solidified an opportunity next season with his stellar play over the final two months of 2023-24. Since March 1 (23 appearances), Banton has averaged 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks in 31.9 minutes per game.
