According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the LA Clippers signed Dalano Banton to a 10-day contract. Banton spent a year and a half with the Portland Trail Blazers after being traded there by the Boston Celtics mid-way through the 2023-24 season. He played solid minutes for the Blazers, but they ultimately decided to part ways with him after the 2024-25 season.
In his first 30 games with the Blazers during the 2023-24 campaign, Banton looked like he could potentially be a legitimate piece for them. He played heavy minutes and put up solid numbers, but it didn’t end up panning out.
Now, Banton will get another shot at making it in the NBA.
Clippers sign Dalano Banton to 10-day contract
Those first 30 games Banton spent with the Blazers were impressive. And up to this point in his career, they may be the best indicator of what he could bring to an NBA roster when he’s playing his best.
During that span of games, Banton played 29.2 minutes per contest, earning eight starts along the way. He averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 40.8% from the floor and 31.1% from deep range on 6.1 three-point attempts per contest.
Obviously, for Banton to really stick in the NBA, he would have to seriously improve one of the core skills needed to earn regular minutes in a rotation, and that’s likely what the Clippers are hoping for.
Banton has never been the best three-point shooter. His best shooting season from beyond the arc was 2024-25, when he played in 67 games for the Blazers.
Even then, he only played 16.7 minutes per contest, shooting just 32.4% from distance on 3.3 three-point attempts per game. That’s not exactly what teams want to see.
Banton is an okay defender, considering his length and height at the guard position, but he’s not a ball-stopper by any means. He’s also just a decent playmaker.
Clearly, the Clippers saw enough out of Banton to warrant giving him another shot at the NBA level, and that makes sense. He’s got great size at the point guard spot and could, in theory, be an interesting part of a rotation.
Since signing his 10-day contract in LA, Banton has made his debut for the Clippers, though it wasn’t a lengthy one. He played just four minutes in the Clippers’ 19-point win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He scored two points, shooting 1-of-2 from the field in those minutes, and he also turned the ball over once.