Dalano Banton Not Tendered Qualifying Offer by Raptors

Dalano Banton is heading into unrestricted free agency Friday night.

The Toronto Raptors opted not to tender a qualifying offer to the 23-year-old Canadian ahead of the Thursday deadline. Banton will therefore not be a restricted free agent and instead head into the open market.

Both Jeff Dowtin Jr. and Ron Harper Jr. were tendered qualifying offers, the team announced, making them restricted free agents. Toronto will therefore be able to match any contracts Dowtin or Harper receive this summer.

Banton played in just 31 games for Toronto this past season and never found his footing with the Raptors. He averaged just 4.6 points while shooting 42.3% from the floor and 29.4% from behind the arc. The Raptors had hoped he could become a backup guard behind Fred VanVleet, using his 6-foot-9 frame to create chaos for Toronto’s second unit, but Banton’s development as a guard didn’t materialize last season.

Toronto’s decision not to qualify Banton doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t be back with the team next season. The qualifying offer was going to be more than the minimum for Banton, and the Raptors need as much financial flexibility as possible ahead of free agency. Toronto can, in theory, re-sign Banton for less than the qualifying offer once free agency begins.

Banton was selected 46^th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. He was chosen one pick ahead of David Johnson who is also no longer with the Raptors.