Boston Celtics Top Star Players who were benched by the Celtics are Happily Transfer To The  new teams Due To…

While their Celtics teammates were sad to see them go at the trade deadline, both Dalano Banton and Lamar Stevens are thriving with their new teams. Banton ended up on the Trail Blazers as the Celtics traded away a second-round pick. Stevens is in Memphis as he was included in the Xavier Tillman deal.

Both Banton and Stevens weren’t able to crack the Celtics’ rotation, but they were part of the “Stay Ready” bench group that has developed their own identity. That professionalism and work behind-the-scenes has seemingly given them both a much-needed boost in their respective NBA careers.

So, sure, it might not have worked out in Boston for the pair of role players. But the front office sent them to some solid locations where Banton and Stevens can show off their NBA-ready skills. And it’s a credit to the Celtics, too, for identifying talent, helping them develop a bit then having them be contributors elsewhere in the league.

“Not just preparing me for the position that I got now,” Banton told MassLive. “But all the hours that we put together to play for the Celtics. A lot of the teams preach the same things. So it’s not as big of an adjustment, Coach Chauncey (Billups) being transparent, getting me up to speed.

Here’s a look at how Banton and Stevens have played with their new teams:

Stats with Blazers: 22 games (seven starts), 15.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists in 27.1 minutes per game. Shooting 43.2% from the field and 36.2% on 3-pointers.

Banton has been on a heater in recent weeks as he’s been a huge surprise since the deadline. Last time out, he poured in 31 points against the Hawks, which followed up a 28-point game against Houston. All in all, Banton has scored in double-figures in nine straight games, including 15 of the Blazers’ 16 games this month. Amusingly, the only time he didn’t score at least 10 points in that stretch came against the C’s on March 11.

Banton has another year left on his contract, but it’s non-guaranteed so his NBA future isn’t solidified. But after his recent play with the Blazers, he should at least have a chance to stick around with the organization. Banton’s size as a 6-foot-8 guard brings a lot to like, and he’s still only 24 as he continues to develop his game.

Stats with Grizzlies: 14 games (one start), 11.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists in 21.7 minutes per game. Shooting 47.8% from the field and 31.8% on 3-pointers.

Stevens missed a couple weeks of the season because of an injury but he was able to get back onto the court recently for Memphis. He picked up right where he left off, scoring in double-figures in the two games since coming back from injury. Stevens has been an energy guy in Memphis, which should play well with an organization that’s all about grinding it out.

Stevens enters free agency this summer, so he’s currently playing for that next contract. Fortunately for the Penn State product, he brings hefty NBA experience to any roster he signs with for next season. Stevens has played in 198 career games (40 starts) now, so there’s plenty to like there. The 26-year-old will look to either stick in Memphis or sign elsewhere this summer.

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Nick Wright Warns Celtics About ‘Unjust’ Playoff Path

The Boston Celtics had another inexcusable loss on Thursday to the Atlanta Hawks when Dejounte Murray exploded for 44 points and hit the game-winning shot in overtime.

It was the latest in a string of alarming losses that should have their fans concerned about the playoffs, which start in less than a month.

Boston’s status as the Eastern Conference’s top seed seems safe, but as it stands now, they would face either the Philadelphia 76ers or Miami Heat in the first round of the postseason.

Nick Wright made a provocative statement on FS1’s “First Things First” when he said that No. 1 seeds in sports should be able to pick their postseason opponents, and he lamented Boston’s first-round matchup against Philly or Miami as unjust.

Letting a No. 1 seed pick its postseason opponents would be an earth-shattering change to the four major pro sports leagues, and it could open up a can of worms, especially when it comes to rearranging the other playoff matchups.

The Celtics would likely welcome such a change this year, but if they’re truly the championship team many have claimed they are, they shouldn’t care who they face to begin the playoffs.

They need to adopt a different attitude if they are going to go all the way and claim their 18th NBA championship this summer, because they have had some alarming losses lately.

On Monday, they blew a 30-point lead against the same Hawks team they lost to on Thursday, and earlier this month, they gave up a 22-point fourth-quarter advantage and lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Boston has just two weeks to get ready for the “second season,” because once they get there, nothing will be easy or given.