For the first time in the 2025-26 NBA season, the Celtics actually have a full 15-man roster after they signed old friend, Dalano Banton, to a two-year deal on Saturday. The league mandates teams have at least 14 players, with a maximum of 15, along with three players on two-way contracts.
The Boston Celtics and Dalano Banton have agreed to a two-year deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Banton has averaged 6.7 points in 14.3 minutes per game in five NBA seasons with the Raptors, Trail Blazers, Clippers, and Celtics. Deal negotiated by Aaron Turner of @VerusTeam. pic.twitter.com/VgbANVs2KL
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) April 11, 2026
A casual observer may wonder why Boston has opted to go through the season without maximizing their roster spots, and think they are leaving some food on the table, but this has all been part of the master plan all along.
Brad Stevens and his front office tipped their hand early in the offseason by trading Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in moves that were clearly based on shedding salary. Those moves continued with repeated swaps, removing a little bit of salary at a time, and getting closer to the ultimate goal of getting below the luxury tax line.
They finally got there, with the final move being reported after the official trade deadline, but by swapping Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic, then dumping Josh Minott, Xavier Tillman Sr., and Chris Boucher, they wiggled their way just a hair below the tax line.
Signing Banton keeps Celtics $11K below luxury tax line
But the work was far from done for the front office, as they had to stay below that line through the end of the season, and they suddenly had multiple roster spots to fill. Since the deadline, the Cs have been gaming the system as much as possible, utilizing 10-day contracts, converting two-way deals to standard contracts, and staying below 14 players for every possible one of the 28 days allowed by NBA rules.
And now, on the eve of the regular season finale, the Celtics have finally filled out the roster. They’ve now converted Amari Williams, Max Shulga, and Ron Harper Jr. from two-ways to the actual roster, and they used the 15th spot to bring back Banton, who was here last month on a two-way, and was with the team for the first half of the 2023-24 season.
As the great Keith Smith pointed out, Brad Stevens revealed at the deadline that his group, with Mike Zarren, Dave Lewin, and Buddy Scott, had a plan in place with everything timed out and sequenced to make it all work. Signing Banton is the final piece of the puzzle and will leave the Celtics a mere $11,000 below the luxury tax.
We’re fans of basketball, not accounting. But this is some incredible work by the front office, and it will give the team a major competitive advantage going forward when it comes to roster-building.
Dalano Banton a solid veteran NBA backup point guard
As for Banton, he’s obviously not likely to factor into the rotation, but he’s a proven NBA commodity. At 6’8” and 26 years old, he’s a jumbo point guard who can handle the ball, get to the cup, and shoot a little bit with some decent defense. If things were to fly off the rails, he could help the team survive for a stretch here and there.
He also has great familiarity with the team from his two stints and has always been well-liked by the fans and in the locker room. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported it’s a two-year deal for Banton, but the second year is likely non-guaranteed.
Still, teams need end-of-bench guys, and Banton may be one of the best ones around for this team. There’s certainly a chance that he’ll be back next season as a veteran leader and towel-waiver on the sidelines.