Dalano Banton reportedly is returning to Boston to fill one of the team’s three open roster spots.
The Celtics plan to sign Banton to a 10-day contract, according to a report Thursday from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
The 26-year-old guard spent part of the 2023-24 season with Boston, appearing in 24 games with one start before being traded to Portland ahead of the trade deadline.
Banton has logged 218 career appearances (19 starts) with the Toronto Raptors, Celtics, Trail Blazers and, most recently, the Los Angeles Clippers, who signed him to a 10-day contract on Feb. 8. Before his brief stint with the Clippers, he was playing for the San Antonio Spurs’ G League affiliate, for which he averaged 24.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 43.9% from the field and 32.3% from 3-point range.
As an experienced ball-handler, the 6-foot-8 Banton addresses one of the Celtics’ stated roster needs. President of basketball operations Brad Stevens said the team intended to add another guard after trading sixth man Anfernee Simons for center Nikola Vucevic earlier this month. And by signing him to a 10-day rather than a full-season contract, Boston can remain below the NBA’s luxury tax line, which they ducked by shipping out Simons, Josh Minott, Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman in deadline deals.
The Celtics must fill at least one more of their vacant roster spots on Thursday, as NBA rules prohibit teams from carrying fewer than 14 players on non-two-way contracts for more than 14 consecutive days.
Boston will visit the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night (10 p.m. ET) in their first game back from the NBA All-Star break.