Tazé Moore, the CEBL MVP standout guard of the Vancouver Bandits, is returning to the Trail Blazers on a two-way contract. He will likely see playing time in the NBA and the G League, splitting time as was the case last year. Moore is bringing with him the experience he gained last season and the experience of playing in CEBL over the summer, leading his team to the CEBL Finals.
Trailblazers Giving CEBL MVP Standout Another Shot
CEBL MVP Tazé Moore Impresses In Canada
Moore, the reigning CEBL MVP standout, is getting a second opportunity in the NBA. Moore recently signed a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. Moore is familiar with the West Coast franchise, as he signed a 10-day contract with them in January this past season. Splitting his playing time between the Blazers and the organization’s G League affiliate, the Rip City Mix, Moore played in 26 games overall. Four of those games were with the Blazers. In the four games he suited up for the Blazers, he produced 4.5 points per game.
Despite spending most of his time with the Mix, Moore clearly impressed enough for Portland to bring him back for another season. Perhaps the decision had a little to do with Moore’s CEBL standout play and performance in Canada. This summer, Moore was awarded the league’s MVP honor. With the Vancouver Bandits, he averaged 17.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. Unfortunately, the Bandits fell to the Niagara River Lions in the CEBL Finals. Still, Moore collected an award he should be proud of.
Moore’s Time in Vancouver
No, they’re not the Grizzlies of the past; they’re the Bandits. The ten-team league stretches from Vancouver to Montreal. In Van City, Moore found his playing time as the eventual CEBL standout guard. The Bandits finished the 20-game season with a 14-6 record, which sent them to the Finals. Moore shone bright, putting his name in the Canadian league’s record books with 124 assists, the second-most ever by a player in the Canadian league. He also became the first CEBL player to achieve two triple-doubles in a season.
The CEBL standout finished his time in Portland following the 2023-24 season, during which the Blazers missed the playoffs. However, Moore’s hopes of returning to the NBA drove him to perform for the Bandits over the summer. His coach shared his thoughts on Moore and complimented his work ethic following the end of the season.
From CEBL to NBA
Playing in Canada has recently become a good showcase for players looking to step up to the NBA. The league has only existed since 2017 and has already sent 18 players for opportunities in the NBA. Tazé Moore is not the only CEBL player to jump to the NBA. Earlier in the off-season, Jackson Rowe from the Scarborough Shooting Stars and Elijah Harkless of the Saskatchewan Rattlers caught breaks with the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers respectively. Both opportunities were Exhibit 10 contracts. Additionally, the Dallas Mavericks signed A.J. Lawson to a standard NBA contract last season, and he ended up playing for them in last season’s 2024 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. Lawson played for the Guelph Nighthawks.
The CEBL standout will again have the chance to prove his worth in the NBA. If it means some time in the G League, that’s a great place to start. Getting reps, gaining experience, and making a solid impression will be his way to wearing a Blazers jersey more frequently.
