Dallas Mavericks Sign Former NBA Guard

The Dallas Mavericks signed Guard Dalano Banton, also known as “D.B. Hooper,” and waived Guard Matthew Cleveland. Here’s why.

Dallas Mavericks Sign Former NBA Guard

The Dallas Mavericks signed Banton to a contract, the team announced on Tuesday morning. Banton, 25, last played for the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2024-25 NBA season. The 25-year-old also played for the Toronto Raptors between 2021-23 and the Boston Celtics from 2023-24.

The Raptors selected Banton with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. Banton’s a Toronto, Ontario, Canada native who played high school basketball in T-Dot but went to the United States to play college basketball at Western Kentucky and Nebraska.

Mavericks Waive Current Guard

Dallas signed Banton, but a subsequent move made room for Balton on the Mavericks’ roster. The team waived Cleveland. Presumably, Cleveland, 23, will head down to the G League to play for the Texas Legends.

Final Thoughts

The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly taking a chance on Banton, thanks to his natural scoring abilities and quick decision-making as a willing passer. Banton scored at least 10 points in 28 different games during the 2024-25 NBA season, while averaging only 16.7 minutes per game.

In 97 games over the last two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Banton averaged 10.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, while shooting 39.9% from the floor. Banton’s best game with the Trail Blazers came in 2024 against the Atlanta Hawks, when he scored a career-high 31 points with 9 assists and 5 rebounds.