Dalano Banton’s next stop is overseas.
After the Boston Celtics waived him in July, the move that came as Summer League was getting underway, Banton is now set to sign with the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin of the Chinese Basketball Association, according to the popular Instagram account HoopsChina. Boston’s decision helped create some breathing room under the luxury tax, and the Celtics still remain below that line. It also left the club with an open roster spot, though that final place on the roster is still unfilled.
This will be Banton’s first time playing outside North America.
He had other options before choosing China. BeBasketball reported that several EuroLeague teams showed interest in the former Celtics guard, with Partizan, Valencia, and Olympiacos all keeping close tabs on him this summer. He also had chances to head overseas last offseason, but he waited it out and eventually landed another NBA opportunity with the Dallas Mavericks.
That Dallas deal did not turn into a roster spot, so Banton moved on to the Texas Legends, the Mavericks’ G League affiliate. Then in February, the six-foot-eight Swiss Army knife picked up a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. When that deal expired later that month, he returned to Boston on the same type of agreement.
At 26, Banton still has time to work his way back into the league. He spent a year-plus with the Portland Trail Blazers and got extended run there, averaging 10.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 20.6 minutes per game. For his NBA career, he’s at 6.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in fewer than 15 minutes per outing.
His path back to Boston last season was tied to a very specific roster situation. The Celtics needed to fill a spot to stay in line with league rules, and bringing back Banton - along with converting John Tonje from a two-way deal - gave them 14 players on standard contracts and satisfied the minimum.
That exact setup is not something he can count on elsewhere this season. Still, if Banton plays well in China, another NBA chance would not be a surprise.
A 10-day contract could come again. A longer deal could too.
And maybe, down the line, it even leads to a third run with the Celtics.
In Other News...
Derrick White Rumors Put Celtics Fans On Edge For One Reason
The Celtics have spent the days after the Jaylen Brown trade fielding calls on Derrick White, and the message so far has been consistent: Boston is not looking to move one of its most trusted two-way guards. That alone has been enough to put fans on edge, because White has become the kind of player contenders hate to lose and opponents keep trying to pry away whenever a front office is juggling bigger roster questions.
For Boston, the noise matters because it comes at a time when the trade market is already full of moving parts, with other teams weighing expensive decisions on young stars and several guards surfacing in speculation around the league. The Celtics do not appear interested in joining that shuffle with White, but the fact that rival teams keep checking in says plenty about how valued he is and why this storyline is likely to linger. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Have A Lot Riding On Jalen Durens Next Team
Jalen Durens next move has become one of the more intriguing pieces of the offseason market, and the stakes go well beyond Detroit. The restricted free agent is reportedly seeking a deal worth at least $200 million over five years, but the Pistons have not matched that number, leaving his situation in a tense holding pattern as teams around the league keep one eye on the possibility of a major shift.
For Boston, the ripple effects matter because a player of Durens age, size and upside rarely reaches this stage without drawing a wide circle of interest. There has been speculation that he could take the qualifying offer and head toward unrestricted free agency next summer, with mutual interest reported between him and the Sacramento Kings, and whatever happens next could influence how the market settles for other frontcourt talent across the NBA. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Have One Roster Decision Still Hanging Over Camp
The Celtics are entering training camp with one roster spot still in limbo, and it is the kind of small-but-important decision front offices like to keep flexible until the last possible moment. Boston already has two players on two-way deals in Amari Williams and Dillon Mitchell, and the open slot could stay that way for about a month while the team weighs its internal rookies against outside free-agent options.
There is plenty else on the Celtics calendar, from a press conference introducing new players Paul George, Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley to ongoing discussions about a potential Payton Pritchard extension. Jayson Tatum also had his new signature shoe line announced, a reminder of his recovery from Achilles surgery, but the final two-way choice is still one of the lingering camp items the team has yet to settle. [Read more 🡒]