Clippers Take a Flier on Dalano Banton With 10-Day Deal - Is There More to Unlock?
The LA Clippers are giving Dalano Banton another crack at the league, signing the 6-foot-9 guard to a 10-day contract. It’s a move that doesn’t shake the NBA landscape, but it’s the kind of low-risk, potentially intriguing addition that contenders like the Clippers often explore late in the season.
Banton, who most recently spent time with the Portland Trail Blazers, is still trying to carve out a consistent role in the NBA. After being traded to Portland midway through the 2023-24 season by the Boston Celtics, he showed flashes of real potential - particularly in his first 30 games with the Blazers, where he was given a bigger opportunity and responded with some of the best production of his young career.
During that stretch, Banton averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in just under 30 minutes per game. He earned eight starts and wasn’t shy about letting it fly, attempting over six threes per game.
The shooting splits weren’t ideal - 40.8% from the field and 31.1% from deep - but the volume and confidence were there. For a player still trying to find his NBA identity, that matters.
Those 30 games might still be the best window into what Banton can offer when he’s in rhythm and playing with freedom. He’s a big guard with solid court vision, and his size alone makes him an interesting matchup on both ends of the floor. But the question - as it’s always been - is whether he can knock down shots consistently enough to stay on the floor.
Shooting has never been Banton’s calling card. Even in his most active season with Portland in 2024-25 - when he appeared in 67 games - he shot just 32.4% from three on 3.3 attempts per game.
That’s a slight uptick from earlier in his career, but still not the kind of efficiency that earns you a steady spot in a playoff rotation. And while he brings decent defensive tools thanks to his length, he hasn’t yet developed into a stopper or lockdown perimeter presence.
So why are the Clippers taking a look? Simple - the upside is still there.
Banton has the physical profile of a modern combo guard and has shown he can produce in spurts when given the opportunity. For a team like the Clippers, who are deep and experienced but always looking to fine-tune the back end of their rotation, a 10-day deal is a no-brainer.
If Banton clicks, even briefly, it could lead to something more.
He’s already made his Clippers debut, logging four minutes in a 19-point win over the Timberwolves. It wasn’t a headline performance - two points on 1-of-2 shooting and one turnover - but it’s a start. These short stints are about showing you belong, even in small flashes.
For Banton, this is another shot to prove he can be more than a fringe rotation player. The tools are there. Now it’s about consistency - especially from deep - and showing that he can contribute in meaningful ways, even in limited minutes.
The Clippers are betting that, with the right environment and a clearly defined role, there might still be something worth unlocking.