Walter Clayton Jr. gave the Mavericks exactly what their backcourt had been missing.
Dallas entered the 2026-27 season with questions behind Kyrie Irving, and the early returns from Sergio De Larrea and Marcus Sasser had already eased some of that concern. De Larrea, a rookie, and Sasser, who averaged 12.0 minutes per game last year, both arrived with modest expectations and have beaten them.
De Larrea’s best showing came last weekend against the San Antonio Spurs, when he put up 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists while knocking down threes and working his floater in the paint. Sasser has also given Dallas steady production off the bench with his shooting and shot creation.
But Clayton is the addition that changes the shape of the room.
He gives the Mavericks another guard who can organize the offense and still generate his own shot, which makes the group behind Irving look far more complete. Irving remains the team’s starter and the clear leader of the backcourt, but Dallas knows the workload will not always be smooth. He missed all of last season with a torn ACL, and even now there will be nights when he sits, struggles, or simply isn’t available.
That is why Clayton matters so much.
On Monday night against the Miami Heat, he looked right at home. Clayton posted 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists in Dallas’ 113-109 win, a result that moved the Mavericks to 2-2.
He handled the ball with confidence, moved it when the play called for it, and also created for himself off the dribble. He got to the rim, buried his mid-range pull-up, and hit catch-and-shoot threes at a strong clip.
For a player the Mavericks landed on a two-way deal without giving up anything, that kind of performance stands out. Clayton came into the league with real pedigree after going in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft and helping Florida win a National Championship. He looked like a big-stage player then, and he looked the part again against Miami.
Dallas needed one more guard who could do a little of everything, and Clayton already looks like the answer. If this level keeps up, he could force his way into a standard contract quickly and become a major part of the Mavericks’ young core.
In Other News...
Mavericks Face A Telling Risacher Decision As Deadline Nears
The Mavericks are facing an important early-season roster call with Zaccharie Risacher, whose rookie-scale option for the 2027-28 season still has not been exercised. Dallas has until Monday to make the decision, and the timing adds another layer to a start that has already been uneven for the young wing, who has struggled with his shooting but has also shown value at the other end with strong numbers in steals and blocks.
For a team trying to sort out its long-term core, the choice carries real weight because it speaks to how much faith Dallas has in Risachers development right now versus what it wants to see before committing further down the line. The Mavericks are not alone in monitoring roster health and personnel movement around the league either, with Houston expected to be without Alperen Sengun for multiple games because of a mild back strain and Memphis guard Ty Jerome opening the fall strongly after his calf injury recovery, but Dallas focus remains on whether this is the right moment to lock in Risacher for the future. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Face Another Injury Headache With Thunder Also Shorthanded
The Mavericks are headed into another matchup with a familiar kind of uncertainty, only this time the Thunder are dealing with it too. Oklahoma City has several names on its injury report, with season-ending absences already in place for Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, while Ajay Mitchell is questionable after an ankle issue. Dallas is juggling its own list of questionable, doubtful and out players, which has become an all-too-familiar backdrop as it tries to keep its rotation stable.
One of the bigger questions for Dallas is Kyrie Irving, who is on the report with a left knee injury. The Thunder will also be short-handed in the frontcourt, with Chet Holmgren unavailable because of right knee patellar tendinitis, adding another wrinkle to a game that already carries more injury drama than usual. For the Mavericks, the concern is less about one night than about how often they keep having to adjust on the fly while the roster continues to change from game to game. [Read more 🡒]
Kyrie Irving's Future Is Back In The Spotlight For Mavericks Fans
The early buzz around Kyrie Irvings future is back in focus for Mavericks fans, and it comes at a time when the Western Conference is already looking crowded. Houston has opened its season 3-0 and has the kind of start that can make rivals take notice, especially if the Rockets decide they want to turn a hot beginning into a bigger swing at contention.
Insiders have started floating the idea that Houston could be a team to watch if Irvings situation in Dallas shifts again, with the fit alongside Kevin Durant naturally adding to the intrigue. For Mavericks fans, the most relevant part is not the rumor itself but what it could mean if Irving ever pushes for a change and Dallas has to decide how much it is willing to do to help shape the next move. [Read more 🡒]