The Mavericks’ latest two-way addition has turned a routine roster move into a real competition.
Dallas signed Walter Clayton Jr. to a two-way contract earlier this week, and that puts Clayton Jr., Tobi Lawal, and Jett Howard into the same fight for attention. With all three now filling the team’s two-way spots, the race is on to see which one can play his way into a standard deal by the end of the season.
That kind of opportunity is nothing new in Dallas. The Mavericks have built a track record of squeezing value out of two-way players, and the organization has seen Ryan Nembhard, Moussa Cisse, and Brandon Williams all make strides in recent years, even if Nembhard and Williams are no longer with the team. More often than not, one of those developmental bets turns into a full-time roster piece, and this group now gets its shot.
Clayton is the newest name in the mix, but Dallas can see the appeal right away. Last season between the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies, he averaged 7.8 points and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 38.4 percent from the field and 30.7 percent from long distance. His pro three-point numbers dipped after a huge senior season at Florida, when he hit 38.6 percent from deep on 7.8 attempts per game, but his college track record and the fact that he shot over 90 percent from the free-throw line as a rookie give the Mavericks reason to believe the shot can come back.
He also fills a need. Dallas needed another backcourt creator, and Clayton gives them a guard who can make a shot for himself outside of Marcus Sasser and Kyrie Irving. With guard depth thin, he has a real lane to matter quickly, and if the bounce-back comes, a longer-term contract isn’t out of the question.
Howard, though, brings his own case to the table. The fourth-year forward arrives in Dallas after not getting enough run in Orlando, and a change of scenery could be exactly what he needs. The Mavericks also have an obvious need for more shooting after going 11-for-37 from three in their first game Wednesday against the Houston Rockets, and Howard already has a résumé that includes a career-high 37.2 percent mark from deep last season.
He’s also not just a catch-and-shoot option. Drafted No. 11 overall in 2023, Howard has more to his game than spot-up threes. He can put the ball on the floor, get to the rim, and he handles it well for a 6-foot-8 player.
Lawal may be the least established name in the group, but he’s the one who has already sparked some real preseason buzz. Against the New Orleans Pelicans, he scored 16 points and showed how useful he can be as a cutter, a screen-setter, and a defender who brings force. He joined Howard as the other frontcourt player in Dallas’ two-way group, and his athleticism makes him a fascinating long-term project.
The former Virginia Tech Hokie has said he wants to become the best defender in the NBA one day, and Masai Ujiri has compared him to OG Anunoby. That’s a lofty standard, but if Lawal gets anywhere close, the Mavericks will be more than happy with the result.
What makes this all worth watching is that each player has a different route to a standard deal. Clayton has to show his shooting can get back on track.
Howard needs to offer more than open looks. Lawal has to keep building out his offense.
Together, they give Dallas one of its most interesting two-way groups in years, and the Clayton signing only sharpened the battle.
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