After recently signing with the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin, Dalano Banton is off to China to play basketball this season. As the priority for the Sacramento Kings remains signing another point guard, Banton would fit the rebuild as a third-string and is someone the front office should keep an eye on.
Born and raised in Toronto, Banton played high school and college ball in the United States. He ended up being drafted by the Raptors in 2021. Playing with his hometown club to start his career was huge, especially when you consider the fact that he was the first Canadian the Raptors drafted.
He spent a lot of time in the G League, then began bouncing around the NBA. Since 2021, he's played for the Raptors, the Celtics on two occasions, the Blazers, the Clippers, and three different G League teams. Banton's longest run in one place was his two seasons in Toronto.
When his brief second run with the Celtics came to an end after the 2025-2026 season, Banton was waived. This led to him signing with Shandong in the Chinese Basketball Association. This is another step on Banton's basketball journey, one that could lead to Sacramento sooner rather than later.
Bringing Banton to the Kings
For now, Banton is a member of the CBA, but he would make an interesting addition to the Kings. Sacramento has a solid group of small forwards, but that won't last forever. There are more roster changes coming over the next couple of years, and Banton could find a spot on the Kings.
Banton is actually a bit bigger than most point guards, something that can give him a bit of an advantage in certain situations. His length gives him the ability to defend multiple positions, while his speed and ball-handling make him a solid secondary playmaker. The Kings need those skills.
All of that being said, Banton definitely can get bullied by bigger players and needs to put on some muscle if he's going to return to the NBA. Additionally, he has to work on his outside shot. His gravity at the three-point line is basically non-existent, as his opponents know he has to drive the lane.
The Kings could potentially use him on the bench as a reserve point guard, sliding him into the rotation as needed. At the age of 26, he's old enough to have real NBA experience under his belt but has yet to hit his prime years. Signing him has the potential to be a big win for the Kings.
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