NBA writer explains why John Tonje was one of Portland's smartest signings

One of the perks of former Badger John Tonje signing a Summer League-only deal with the Boston Celtics is that it allowed him to show off and then shop his skills around the league. He did exactly that. He was one of the best and most consistent guards in the NBA Summer League this year in Vegas and was immediately rewarded with a two-way deal. Yet, it wasn't with the Celtics; it was with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Signing with Portland was smart by Tonje, as he has a clearer path to a regular NBA role. One NBA writer said that it was also incredibly smart by the Trail Blazers. Jack Simone, a Celtics reporter who does some freelance work for other NBA sites like Rip City Project, said: "The Blazers were smart to swoop in and steal John Tonje from the Celtics."

John Tonje's path to meaningful NBA minutes is way more clear in Portland

Simone said that Tonje is the "perfect guy for Portland to take a chance on." The fit for Tonje and Portland is immediate in Tonje's ability to shoot the three. The Trail Blazers were one of the worst teams in the league at shooting and especially shooting from behind the arc. Simone thinks this is the exact reason Portland is taking a chance on him.

"At his core, Tonje is a bucket-getter. A shot creator. But in Vegas, he flashed his floor-spacing and his hustle." Simone said, "He shot lights-out from deep range, and though he wasn’t perfect on defense, his effort was more than enough to keep him competitive on that side of the ball."

The goal for Portland and Tonje is to find a role for him to not only be guard depth on the bench but also a rotational shooting spot. He also proved to be a leader for Boston, and the comments of Celtics Summer League coach Amile Jefferson showcased how much Tonje can be a glue guy and strong locker room presence. Jefferson said, "He’s become a leader. We can lean on him. The thing you want as a coach is dependability. You want guys that you know what you’re going to get from them, and for me, that’s exactly what he’s been."

This is important for Portland, which has a pretty young group of players. There are a few vets on the team, but then it's pretty youthful. Adding a player like Tonje helps a ton.

So for Tonje, he sees a path in which he can be in the NBA and a place in which he may even provide a role. It also gives him a legit two-way contract, which didn't seem to be immediately available from the Celtics. Sure, the Celtics were looking for a way to keep him, or so it appears; the Trail Blazers were quick to get him signed.

For the Trail Blazers, they see a leader, a glue guy, a three-point shooter, and someone they can trust, even though he's young. There's a pathway to minutes and development. Now Tonje heads for training camp, where he hopes to prove he should start the year on the NBA roster and not just immediately in the G-League.

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