JULY 16: The Celtics have officially signed Banton, the team announced today in a press release.
JULY 3: The Celtics will sign free agent point guard Dalano Banton to a two-year contract, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. It’s likely a minimum deal, and Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe reports that the second season will be a team option (Twitter link).
Banton became an unrestricted free agent last week when the Raptors decided not to tender a qualifying offer.
Toronto selected Banton with the 46th pick in the 2021 draft and signed him for two years. He appeared in 64 games as a rookie, but saw his role decrease in his second NBA season. Banton averaged 4.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 31 games last season and spent part of the year in the G League.
Banton met with Celtics officials shortly after free agency began on Friday. The 23-year-old will provide some backcourt depth for the team, with Marcus Smart heading to Memphis.
Maybe Boston isn’t that high on Pritchard, or has plans in the works for Brogdon?
I think they reported Brogdon can’t be traded because of an undisclosed injury. Banton is better than Pritchard at everything except outside shooting. I like Pritchard a lot but Banton is a long multi-positional player on offence and defence. Great pick up for Boston to get more perimeter defence and ball handling after trading Marcus and possibly losing Grant
No. He wasn’t traded to the clippers because they didn’t have time to look over his medicals. His injury was disclosed a while ago and he’s expected to be ready for the season.
Pritchard isn’t afraid in big games. He reminds me of JJ Barea
Damn, really? How did Toronto really let this guy go for nothing like that? And now they have both Banton and Champagnie…
So now they have Brissett, Walsh, who they drafted, Banton, and Champagnie as their depth at the 4, and Banton can obviously also give them a lot at guard in super lengthy/versatile lineups. Have to assume that means Grant Williams will be elsewhere, and they still have options at smallball 5 too, so even more reason to think he wont be back
They could use 1 more piece on the wing
Bc guys like Banton are a dime a dozen, he’ll always be a fringe player.
Guys like Banton who can defend multiple positions and also play the PG spot, with his length, are as far from a dime a dozen as it gets. Literally the type of player the entire league looks for, and the future of the NBA, with guys with size across the board, skilled, and can defend most everyone
He sucks, he literally cant do any of the things you said that good at all, which is why he was with the 905 last year and not resigned this year.
Meh. If Banton plays any meaningful minutes something has gone terribly wrong for the Cs
Or wonderfully good!
When a team like the Raptors (who have just completely reinvented their coaching staff to emphasize development) walk away from a young, tall, toolsy multi positional player (who in many ways fits their archetype) to me it screams behavioural issues, locker room cancer, lack of effort – or some similar type of issue. Especially when he is a local kid and the first ever Canadian/Toronto native drafted by the Raptors.
Nah, Banton is none of those – he’s quiet and unassuming, even showed up to the presser for the new coach just a few weeks ago. He just never got a decent chance with Nurse at the helm. Lots of Raptors fans are disappointed that he’s gone. Who doesn’t want your hometown kid playing, right? But maybe that was the issue – it’s gotta be hard to live and play in your hometown. I’m inclined to think he asked out so he could play elsewhere.
This. I can’t think of anything worse than suddenly becoming rich and well known in my home town. Whenever I have to visit I like to keep a low profile.
Just an additional pressure for a young man. Banton plays with a lot of pace. I think given chance he could be a key bench piece.
The issue was they never needed Thaddeus young, as much as I’ve always liked him, and Nurse’s rotations were never what they should have been the last 2-3 years
Thank you for a factual opinion! I trust Brad Stevens to find talent. Who knows? A 6’7″ point guard who produces triple doubles many be just the facilitator our stars need to play with. Doesn’t need to shoot threes this upcoming season, just run the team. Welcome aboard Dalano Banton! Go Celtics!
I agree. He is extremely lucky tho. He gets another fresh start with a contender.
He also played for 3 different high schools and 2 different colleges. Most likely just the young man keeps going to better situations, but it makes you think that he’s possibly a cancer off the court.
Give me a break dude.
Possibly. But that’s also a lazy way of thinking and something that smart franchises should never engage in. Never assume and do your own homework.
It is very strange Toronto let him go. Hopefully he is not a cancer for my Celtics. Still Hope Blake gets a Roster spot.
Bwahahahaha, Celtics attracting all the big names!?!! Ahahahahaha!!!
hahahaha Kurtis blow weak attempts at trolling! hahahahaha so pathetic blow
This guy was high on my wishful thinking, hopeful list for the Heat, although I also never expected him to even be available, and I thought someone would try to grab him with more than a minimum, when he was
Dig it rude Boi!
He’s probably a year or two away from really having a chance to be a starter or definitely a real impact player off the bench but you really just can’t find 6’8-6’9 PG’s who is decent-good at everything. Outside of Lamelo and Shai I can’t think of any other PG’s in the league at that height that is better at everything on the court than Dalano Banton. Probably Cade Cunningham to but Idk his official height. I thought he was 6’8 when he first got into the league but now they say he’s listed at 6’6 so who knows but like I said before outside of those three PG’s I can’t name any other PG’s that are clearly better.
Watching Dalano’s highlights I believe he has a chance of being our Celtics point guard of the future. The way he handles the ball, can get past & see over defenders and then kick the ball out. We can surely use a tall, triple-double point guard. And I very much trust Stevens in his evaluation of talent. Go Celtics!
I said it before if he can handle the ball put him out there with porzingas and that could be a devasting pick and roll that will be very hard to stop