We're less than two months away from the 2025-26 NBA regular season tipping off, and there's still no update on the status of former Portland Trail Blazers guard Dalano Banton. Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report suggested two realistic options for Banton, although neither sounds ideal from Banton's standpoint.
"I have no idea what's going on with Dalano Banton this summer. At this point, he might either have to go overseas or go to somebody's training camp on a prove-it deal," Highkin wrote.
Dalano Banton's options continue to dwindle
The Blazers took a low-risk flyer on Banton, acquiring him from the Boston Celtics for essentially nothing (a heavily protected second-round pick and cash considerations) at the trade deadline. That paid off as Banton finished the 2023-24 season averaging a career high 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in that 30-game stretch with Portland.
The Blazers had injuries to key players (or were improving their draft position, we'll let you decide), and Banton made the most of his opportunity, providing much-needed offense as a 6-foot-8 jumbo guard. That ultimately led to Portland picking up Banton's team option for the 2024-25 season, which was the right move as his play warranted an extended audition.
His numbers dipped this past year, averaging 8.3 points while shooting just 39.1% from the field and 32.4% from beyond the arc. Banton and Jabari Walker were the only Blazers players set to hit free agency this summer, and Portland decided to let both walk to clear up roster spots. Portland does have a final two-way spot remaining, but Banton's NBA experience makes him ineligible.
We understand why Banton is no longer in the picture, as his role as a score-first guard didn't effectively scale down. His high usage also didn't align with general manager Joe Cronin's vision, as the Blazers look to open up backcourt opportunities for Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
One would have assumed he boosted his stock around the league after a relatively successful one and a half seasons in Portland. But given that there's no word on Banton with training camp approaching and roster spots filling, that isn't likely the case. Being an inefficient score-first guard isn't an ideal combination, and could ultimately scare NBA teams away to the point where Banton needs to take his skillset overseas. He's a unique player who needs to be put in a particular situation as a go-to option to bring out the best of what his skillset has to offer -- and that situation may be difficult to find in the NBA.