Mavericks just struck out on a high-upside swing to the Clippers

When the Dallas Mavericks signed guard Dalano Banton in the offseason to a training camp deal, fans were instantly buzzing about the high upside move. Banton was coming off a solid two-year stint with the Portland Trail Blazers, and while he wasn't a marquee offseason signing, he had the potential to make some noise off the bench for a low price, until he signed with the LA Clippers.

Just over a week ago, the Clippers were able to snag Banton from the Texas Legends for a 10-day contract, and while this move has gone over the heads of many Mavs fans, it means the Clippers own the right to re-sign Banton to another 10-day deal or to a standard NBA contract. Mavericks fans already aren't fond of the Clippers due to their multiple duels in the playoffs during the Luka Doncic era, and now they have another reason to dislike LA.

For the Texas Legends, Banton was able to make a massive impact this season, averaging 24.1 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. Dallas had him in his backyard, but passed up on him.

Why losing Dalano Banton to LA could sting Mavericks down the line

One reason losing out on Banton may be a massive mistake for the Mavericks is the Cooper Flagg effect. There's no doubt that, especially as the Mavericks pivot from two different eras and are focusing on their draft stock, the team should take a swing at pairing Flagg up with a young flyer like Banton. At 26 years old, Banton still has a lot to offer, and even if he wasn't a part of Dallas' long-term plan, he may have positioned himself well for a decent free agency in a Mavs uniform.

Now, with the Clippers, Banton is getting another shot at NBA redemption on a roster that has been one of the hottest teams in the NBA. To make matters even better for Banton, the Clippers just traded James Harden to the Indiana Pacers for Darius Garland and Ivica Zubac, which, to many, was a clear sign the team is focusing on a new chapter.

It would still be a long shot to call Banton a pro-ready guard at 26 years old, but to have the opportunity to mold a flyer into a player of your choosing, especially alongside a rookie year Flagg, may be an opportunity the Mavericks never get back.

Banton had become an interesting prospect in his time with the Blazers, as he was able to get real NBA minutes and make a true impact on the offensive end. He not only became a wizard on that end, but proved that he was one of the better offensive-minded guards on his team. It was just a question of consistency and defensive impact, which is why Dallas took the swing on him before the season tipped off.

The only difficult part for the Mavericks would have been creating a roster spot for the former Blazer, as the team has expressed interest in opening up a roster spot to sign Ryan Nembhard or Moussa Cisse, but it has yet to do so. With the team in a clear tanking mode, fans are questioning why the Mavericks haven't yet created any roster space to sign some younger players, but Banton could likely have been in the running to fill one of the team's needs if more roster space opened up.

At the trade deadline, the Mavericks eyed possible routes to create roster space, and while Banton would not have been the first name Dallas signed, he had a decent chance at being a possible third signing if Dallas' roster was that open.