Mavericks sign jumbo playmaker at the last minute to ignite fierce backcourt battle

The Dallas Mavericks played in their first preseason game last night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it didn't take them long to make a roster move following the game. Earlier today, the Mavericks signed Dalano Banton to a deal while waiving Matthew Cleveland, and Banton will now join a loaded backcourt to try to earn a spot on the 15-man roster.

Dallas' backcourt was once thought of as one of their weak spots, as Kyrie Irving is set to miss a large chunk of this season after tearing his ACL in March, but their guard room is quietly loaded ahead of next season. The Mavericks have D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Williams, Dante Exum, and Jaden Hardy on the 15-man roster, while Banton and Dennis Smith Jr. sit on the outside looking in as they try to secure a guaranteed deal ahead of next season.

Banton has played four seasons in the NBA, meaning that he is ineligible for a two-way deal, so the only way for him to stick around in Dallas beyond the preseason will be through landing a spot on the 15-man roster. The Mavs would have to cut someone to sign Baanton to a guaranteed deal, such as Exum or Williams, and a solid preseason showing could have Nico Harrison and Jason Kidd contemplating such a decision.

Dalano Banton joins all-out sprint for a roster spot

In 97 games over the last two seasons for the Portland Trail Blazers, Banton averaged 10.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 39.9 percent from the field, and he could find himself being an intriguing option for the Mavericks to consider thanks to his unique skillset and frame.

Banton is a 6-foot-8 point guard who is a solid on-ball creator for himself and others, and it's tough to find a player of his size who can handle the ball, run the show when needed, and create his own shot. The Mavericks are already short on players who can create their own offense, so don't count Banton out of remaining in Dallas beyond the preseason.

He has shown flashes over his four-year NBA career that he can be an excellent secondary playmaker, and this is exactly what the Mavs need. They don't need someone who is always looking to call their own number. Rather, they need a player who will complement their already-complete core and bring a dynamic and unique skillset, and that's what they'd get out of Banton.

He has great size and length for a point guard, as he is 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, and his physical build would fit what the Mavericks are trying to build perfectly.

Dallas clearly wants to play big ball, as they started Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II together last night, and adding a massive point guard off the bench would give them even more positional size that they could utilize. The Mavericks' jumbo lineup is built upon size, versatility, and defense, and those are all things that Banton brings.

His height and length make him a switchable defender who can guard multiple positions and disrupt passing lanes, and with a back line that includes Davis, Lively II, and Daniel Gafford, he wouldn't need to be elite on that end. He would need to be servicable, and his effort on that end of the floor would help ensure that he is just that.

This isn't to say that Banton would be a major contributor off the bench if he did make the team, but he has shown enough flashes over the last two seasons that he deserves a standard contract somewhere in the NBA. The physical tools combined with his smooth scoring and underrated passing make him a strong option for a team's bench unit, and Dallas could end up giving him a shot if their other guards struggle in training camp and preseason.

Kidd has made it known that training camp and positional battles will last until October 21, the day before the regular season begins, and Banton has exactly 14 days to prove that he belongs in Dallas.

Even if he doesn't earn a standard deal with the Mavericks, Dallas acquired his G League rights, meaning that he'll likely be playing for the Texas Legends next season if he doesn't make the team.