Dalano Banton's journey through the NBA has been a rollercoaster, and it continues to take intriguing turns. After starting the 2023-24 season with the Celtics, he found himself traded to the Portland Trail Blazers at the deadline.
Banton spent a year and a half in Portland before navigating the free agency waters. Recently, he inked a 10-day deal with the LA Clippers, showcasing his resilience and adaptability.
Standing tall at 6-foot-8, the 26-year-old guard has carved out a niche for himself with career averages of 6.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. His shooting stats-40.3% from the field and 30.4% from downtown on 2.4 three-point attempts per game-highlight his potential impact on the floor.
On a parallel path, Tonje has been making waves since joining the Celtics on a two-way contract. Acquired in a deal that sent Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz, Tonje's journey is just beginning. Drafted by Utah as the 23rd pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-4 guard wrapped up a stellar college career at Wisconsin, averaging 19.6 points in his final year.
This season, Tonje has been a force in the G League, playing 35 games with 34 starts for the Maine Celtics. His stats-18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 46.2% from the field and 37.0% from three-point range-underscore his readiness for the next level.
For the Celtics, these moves were strategic necessities. After trading away three players at the deadline and receiving none in return, Boston found itself with just 11 standard roster players. Converting Amari Williams to a standard deal brought them to 12, but they needed to reach the NBA's minimum roster requirement of 14.
Boston's cap management is a delicate dance aimed at staying under the tax line. Following the trade deadline, they are $842,292 below the tax threshold. This figure isn't enough to sign two players outright, but clever timing and prorated contracts can make it work.
Tonje's lack of NBA experience means his contract will be modest, and Banton, in just his fifth season, won't command a large salary either. The Celtics' strategy of using 10-day contracts allows them to delay larger commitments, ensuring those eventual deals fit within their financial constraints.
As the Celtics navigate these cap gymnastics, keep an eye on Ron Harper Jr. He's poised for a standard contract, having earned it with his performances. Boston's commitment to rewarding talent, as seen with Williams, suggests Harper's time is coming.