Dalano Banton has signed a full two-year deal with the Boston Celtics, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports. Banton fills the Celtics' final spot on the 15-man roster heading into the postseason, rejoining a team he had previous experience playing for in the 2023-24 season before heading to Portland.
The Trail Blazers took a low-risk flyer on the jumbo guard, acquiring him for a heavily protected 2027 second-round pick at the 2024 deadline. He had the best stretch of his career to close out that season in Portland, averaging a career-high 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
With Banton succeeding in that 30-game audition, the Blazers picked up his contract for the 2024-25 season. He was serviceable as a microwave scorer off the bench, even single-handedly winning them a few games with heroic fourth-quarter performances.
Still, Banton was the odd man out as Portland shook up its roster on the margins this past summer. His skillset never quite scaled down to the role, as he's best with the ball in his hands, which isn't ideal for an end-of-the-bench player. That catch-22 caused Banton to bounce around the league despite his talent, playing for the Dallas Mavericks' G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, this season.
Dalano Banton joins a contender in Boston
Fortunately, he's managed to find a more permanent landing spot in the NBA just in time for the playoffs. Banton previously had a 10-day contract with the Celtics back in February, but never signed a second 10-day deal. Ultimately, the former connections played a role in this decision as Boston looks to bolster its offense.
This was largely viewed as a gap year for Boston, but the Celtics have exceeded expectations with Jaylen Brown even earning a spot in the MVP conversation. Now with Jayson Tatum's return, they should be considered a favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference. Banton gets a realistic shot at his first NBA ring, although he's unlikely to make a meaningful impact on that deep playoff run.
Portland has seen its fair share of departed role players thrive elsewhere, whether it's Bryce McGowens in New Orleans, Rayan Rupert in Memphis, or Trendon Watford and Jabari Walker in Philadelphia. It's unlikely this is a similar situation with Banton, as Portland was right to let him walk in free agency.
They've missed some of his offensive creation this season, especially due to injuries in their backcourt. But Portland has been able to give extended opportunities to higher-upside players such as Sidy Cissoko, who they've converted to a standard contract of their own.
Regardless, we're still happy to see Banton find his footing, especially in a place where he could be a part of something special in the postseason.