Dalano Banton is heading to China, but his name still belongs on Sacramento’s radar.
After signing with the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin, the Toronto-born guard is set to play this season in the Chinese Basketball Association. That move doesn’t close the door on the NBA, though - and for the Kings, Banton is the kind of option worth filing away while the front office keeps searching for another point guard.
Banton’s path has already been a winding one. He grew up in Toronto, then played high school and college basketball in the United States before the Raptors drafted him in 2021. That was a notable moment in its own right: he became the first Canadian Toronto selected.
From there, his career turned into a tour. He spent plenty of time in the G League and has since logged NBA stints with the Raptors, the Celtics twice, the Blazers and the Clippers, along with time on three different G League teams. His longest stay anywhere came in Toronto, where he spent two seasons.
That second Celtics run ended after the 2025-2026 season, when Boston waived him. Soon after, Banton landed with Shandong, continuing a career that has already taken more turns than most. It also leaves open the possibility that he could be back in the league before long.
For Sacramento, the appeal is pretty easy to see. Banton is bigger than the typical point guard, and that size gives him some useful flexibility.
He can defend more than one spot, and his speed and handle make him a capable secondary creator. Those are the kinds of traits a team like the Kings can use.
There are still obvious rough edges. Bigger players can knock him off his spots, so he needs more strength if he’s going to stick in the NBA again. His jumper is also a work in progress, and opposing defenses don’t have much reason to respect him at the three-point line, which forces him to attack downhill.
Even so, Banton could make sense as a reserve guard in Sacramento, someone who can step into the rotation when needed. At 26, he already has real NBA mileage, but he’s still not at his prime years yet. If the Kings were to take a shot on him, it could end up being a smart one.
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