Raptors select Dalano Banton with 46th pick

With the 46th overall pick in the NBA draft, the Raptors have selected 6’9” Nebraska guard and Toronto native Dalano Banton.

After transferring from Western Kentucky following his freshman season, Banton posted averages of 9.6 points, 5.9 boards and 3.9 assists in 27 games for the Cornhuskers this past season.

Here’s the scoop on him from NBA Draft Junkies’ Rafael Barlowe back in December.

Banton is a 6’9’” point guard (yes, you read that correctly) that fills the stat sheet and is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Banton has the ball handling and aggressive mindset to attack slower bigs off the dribble, while also being able to post smaller guards and make plays for teammates passing out of double teams. I don’t know if point guard is his long term position in the NBA, but his versatility fits the modern position less NBA and could become a playmaking 4. He’ll need to improve as a shooter to unlock his full potential, but Banton has a unique blend of size and skills that should make him one of the most intriguing prospects in college basketball.

As is the case with any second round pick, there’s a significant chance that it won’t pan out with Banton. That said, the Raptors have struck gold at this exact slot in the draft before with Norman Powell in 2015. Banton will surely get dropped into the Raptors 905 pipeline, where there will be way more opportunity for prolonged development than the G-League offered in its shortened bubble season this past winter. Toronto’s vision of only playing dudes who are 6’9 is coming together swimmingly.

Now, go click the next story and see who the Raptors took at 47!