Stock up, stock down amid turbulent week of Raptors basketball

Stock Down: Dalano Banton

Banton has been hailed as a very promising two-way prospect in Toronto, as he forced his way into the rotation over Goran Dragic and Malachi Flynn. As good as he has been this season, he has taken a step backward over the last few weeks.

Banton has only scored more than four points in a game once since November 26, and he had just five points in that game. He is shooting 30% from the field in that stretch. With his still developing 3-point not yet potent enough to get opposing defenders scared of his ability in that area, Banton has found it difficult to consistently contribute on offense.

Toronto Raptors rookie Dalano Banton is struggling to shoot.

While some of these flaws can be excused as the growing pains of a second-round rookie, Banton is the de facto backup point guard behind VanVleet, so Toronto needs him to provide just a bit more on the offensive end. If that fails to materialize, the Raptors could look to tinker with the rotation just a bit.

Banton might be a second-round pick, but Toronto wouldn’t continue to throw him out there unless they valued him as a part of the bench long-term. While he is going through rookie growing pains at the moment, Banton has the conviction and potential to get through this rough patch.