Hours before the Dallas Mavericks are set to open the 2026-27 NBA season in Houston, they landed a jolt of good news.
Walter Clayton Jr. has agreed to a two-way deal with Dallas, giving the Mavericks a late addition after the Memphis Grizzlies waived him on Monday. The move comes after Clayton’s path took another sharp turn, with the former first-round pick now set to join a rebuilding roster that already includes Cooper Flagg.
Clayton’s rise has been fast and packed with swings. He helped Florida win the 2025-26 NCAA men’s basketball national championship as a senior, then entered the league and spent time with the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz and Grizzlies. Memphis released him despite his recent production there, where he averaged 9.7 points and 5.7 assists while shooting 31 percent from 3-point range.
His final college season was the kind that put him on the map. Clayton averaged 18.3 points and 5.7 assists per game and hit 39 percent of his 303 3-point attempts. Over Florida’s six NCAA tournament games, he put up 22.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists on the way to earning consensus All-American honors and Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
Dallas may not be starting from scratch on the recruitment front, either. Marc Stein noted that Dusty May once tried to recruit Clayton to Michigan, and that relationship could have helped the Mavericks here. Stein wrote: "The Mavericks have emerged a leading contender to land Walter Clayton Jr. when he clears waivers, @TheSteinLine has learned.''
Clayton was originally selected No. 18 overall by the Washington Wizards before being traded on draft night to Utah. He appeared in 45 games for the Jazz, averaging 6.8 points and 3.2 assists while shooting 31 percent from beyond the arc before being moved again to Memphis.
There had been talk that the Grizzlies were trying to move him, with the Sacramento Kings and possibly Dallas among the teams showing interest. No trade materialized before Monday’s 4 p.m. CT roster deadline, and Clayton ended up waived instead.
He is owed $4.2 million this season on his rookie-scale contract, a number Dallas was evidently willing to live with as it tries to turn the page on a 26-win 2025-26 season. The Mavericks now head into Wednesday’s opener against the Houston Rockets with a fresh addition in place.
In Other News...
Dwight Powells Mavericks Run Is Over And Fans Want Answers
Dwight Powells long Mavericks run has come to an end, and for a player who spent years as one of the more familiar faces on the roster, the timing made the news land with a little extra weight. Dallas waived Powell along with guards Seth Lundy and John Poulakidas, closing the book on a tenure that saw Powell become one of the franchises steadiest presences and a part of multiple playoff pushes.
Dusty May praised Powells professionalism and the way he contributed to the team, which only sharpened the sense that this was a meaningful move rather than a routine roster shuffle. Powell ranks fifth in team history in games played, so any exit like this naturally invites questions about what comes next for the frontcourt and how the Mavericks are shaping their depth chart as they keep moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Take A Needed Backcourt Flier Behind Kyrie Irving
The Mavericks added another name to the backcourt mix by bringing in Walter Clayton Jr. on a two-way deal, a move that gives them a little more insulation behind Kyrie Irving. Clayton arrives with a reputation for playmaking and enough promise from his college run to make him an intriguing depth piece, especially for a roster that can never really have too many ball-handlers when the games tighten up.
For Dallas, the appeal is in the possibility, not the certainty. Clayton is still in the early part of his pro career, but the Mavericks clearly see a chance to develop a guard who can handle some point-guard duties and give the team another option when Irving needs help or rest. To clear the way, the front office made a corresponding roster move, underscoring how small margins can be when a team is trying to shore up its bench. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Suddenly Have A Real Shot At A Guard Fans Know
Walter Clayton Jr. hitting the waiver wire after Memphis moved on ahead of the roster deadline has put him squarely back on the radar for teams looking to add guard depth, and Dallas is among the clubs keeping close tabs. The Mavericks have room on a two-way roster spot, which gives them a path to take a swing on a player with enough name recognition to already feel familiar to fans who followed his rise.
The fit is not just about opportunity, either. There is a built-in comfort level between Clayton and Dallas coach Dusty May, which could matter if the guard gets through waivers and starts weighing where he has the clearest path to minutes this season. Sacramento is also in the mix, so Claytons next stop may come down to which team can offer the sharper pitch once the waiver process plays out. [Read more 🡒]