Mavericks' newest signing could be the missing piece in Nico Harrison's master plan

The Dallas Mavericks shockingly signed Dalano Banton to a contract earlier this week while simultaneously waiving Matthew Cleveland, and Banton happens to be the perfect fit into what Nico Harrison seems to value when it comes to roster building.

The entire world knows that Harrison loves defense, as the phrase "defense wins championships" became commonplace from the fifth-year general manager following his decision to trade Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, and while Banton fits Harrison's defensive mantra, he also happens to have the excellent size that the Mavericks have built their roster around.

The Mavericks were already one of the biggest teams in the NBA before they signed Banton, as their starting lineup will likely include 6-foot-9 Cooper Flagg, 6-foot-10 Anthony Davis, and supposed 7-foot-2 or 7-foot-3 Dereck Lively II, and Banton's 6-foot-8 frame as a point guard gives them even more positional size.

Nico Harrison will love Dalano Banton's size and defense

Dallas' positional size was a major weakness before the P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford trades, as they always seemed to be a smaller team in comparison to their opponents, but Harrison has flipped the script in this department.

He and Jason Kidd are dedicated to using double-big lineups that include Davis and Lively II or Gafford, and if Banton makes the team, they'll now have a bench guard who is built like a wing. It's not common to find a point guard who has Banton's size and skill, and Dallas being able to sign him to an Exhibit 10 deal after training camp had already begun is an absolute bargain.

Over his last two seasons in Portland, Banton proved that he can be a rotation player in the NBA, as he averaged 10.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 97 games as a Trail Blazer, but no team took a chance on him this summer. Banton had plenty of interest to go play overseas, but he decided to patiently wait for an NBA opportunity.

That's exactly what Dallas gave him, and he now has a few weeks to prove that he belongs and deserves a roster spot. In order to give Banton a spot on the 15-man roster, they'd likely have to waive Brandon Williams or dump someone like Dante Exum or Jaden Hardy in a trade, and since those things seem unlikely at this juncture, he may spend a season developing in the G League for the Texas Legends.

Even if Banton can't crack Dallas' roster this year, he would still have a great shot at making the roster next year if he takes another step in his development with the Legends, and this would be a dream scenario for the Mavericks. Dallas will have a front row seat to Banton and his growth (assuming he doesn't make the Mavs' roster), and with a few roster spots opening up next summer, he could be someone that the Mavericks consider keeping around.

Banton's defense, playmaking, scoring, and versatility make him an intriguing prospect for the Mavericks to have in their pipeline, and this preseason should be a good sign of how he could potentially fit in Dallas one day. His 6-foot-10 wingspan, quickness, and effort allow him to be a disruptive defender who can guard multiple positions, and he could be impactful enough to make Kidd and Harrison consider giving him a roster spot.

He is ineligible for the team's final two-way deal, as he already has four years of NBA experience, but the Mavericks are never afraid to make room for a premium player if needed. Dallas waived Olivier-Maxence Prosper to create a roster spot for Exum earlier this summer, and if Banton plays too well to remain unsigned, they could waive Williams or trade a different player in a salary dump.

Mavericks fans shouldn't get their hopes up too much, as it seems unlikely that he'll be on the 15-man roster for the 2025-26 season, but it would be the perfect story if he grows with the Legends and signs a standard deal with Dallas next offseason.