1 Roster spot battle to watch at Blazers' training camp (and who should win it)

The Portland Trail Blazers have an unfinished roster filled with uncertainties. GM Joe Cronin addressed that at Media Day, saying he hoped to come away from the 2024-25 season with more "clarity" surrounding the team. Training camp is officially underway, and it's the first opportunity to answer some key questions that will hopefully provide Cronin with the clarity he's looking for—and that he didn't get much of last season due to various injuries—to help navigate Portland's rebuild.

One particular question the Blazers will have to answer is who will officially be on the 15-man roster heading into the season. The final spot could come down to Dalano Banton and Devonte' Graham.

Banton and Graham are the only two players who don't have guaranteed contracts entering training camp. The Blazers did pick up Banton's team option, but they would only owe him $217,000 of the $2.2 million if they decided to release him. In other words, there's no significant financial incentive to factor into the decision.

Picking between the two guards may be more challenging than some think. They are polar opposites regarding their style of play, strengths, weaknesses, and the value they would provide the Blazers in the short and long term.

Can Graham beat out Banton for a roster spot?

Last year, Banton was acquired mid-season from the Celtics. It turned out to be an excellent buy-low deal for the Blazers. With Portland, he averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Credit to Banton for taking advantage of his increased role and opportunity after the Blazers suffered multiple injuries to key players last season. But it's unlikely he will get anywhere close to the 29.2 minutes per game he saw in 2023-24.

Something to monitor at training camp is how impactful a player he will be with decreased minutes and, more importantly, a reduced role in the offense. Banton was an inefficient shooter (40.8 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from three) and won't be able to have as much of the offense run through him when he's on the court compared to last year. Can he still thrive without having the ball in his hands as much? He'll have to contribute more off-ball as a (hopefully improved) shooter and slasher, taking advantage of his 6-foot-8 frame.

Graham has experience and shooting on his side as a 29-year-old guard who is a career 35.4 percent three-point shooter. He has a case for making the roster as someone who would help the Blazers' up-and-coming guards, specifically Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, more than Banton due to his veteran leadership and floor spacing.

Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Banton provides more untapped potential and two-way versatility. The Blazers have multiple areas of need and could benefit from either player archetype, as they lack shooting, experience, and versatility.

The answer may ultimately come down to how each guard performs at training camp. As of now, Banton gets the nod, given his upside and Portland's rebuilding timeline.