The Dallas Mavericks have a roster problem staring them in the face with just two days left before their first regular-season game: they need more shot creation, and they need it behind Kyrie Irving.
That issue showed up last season when Irving was out with an ACL tear, and it still looms over a team trying to bounce back after losing 56 games. Dallas didn’t add much in the way of creators or ball handlers this offseason, and the roster still skews heavily toward finishers on the wing rather than players who can initiate offense.
Now, with one two-way spot still open after the team waived John Poulakidas over the weekend, the Mavericks have an unexpected name to weigh: Walter Clayton Jr.
The Memphis Grizzlies surprisingly waived Clayton after his rookie season, and that opens the door for Dallas to make a move. A two-way contract would give the Mavericks another guard who can handle, score, and ease some of the burden on Irving. It would also balance out the club’s current two-way setup, which includes forwards Jett Howard and Tobi Lawal.
Clayton’s rookie year gave plenty of reasons for a team to keep betting on him. He averaged 7.8 points and 4.0 assists per game across stops with the Utah Jazz and Memphis, while also turning in some notable production: 11 games with 7 or more assists and seven games with 15 or more points. For a player taken No. 18 in the 2025 NBA Draft after helping lead the Florida Gators to the National Championship in 2025, that’s a strong enough resume to merit another opportunity.
What makes him especially interesting for Dallas is the fit. The Mavericks need a point guard type who can do more than just stand around and finish plays.
Clayton can attack at all three levels, create his own shot, and set the table for others. He gets to his spots with pace changes, owns a solid mid-range pull-up, and has a decent floater.
In the pick-and-roll, he has shown he can read the floor and decide whether to score or find an open teammate.
He also offers the kind of guard versatility the Mavericks could use. Clayton can play both backcourt spots, finishes well in transition, and has a knack for showing up in key moments. That’s part of what made him such an appealing prospect before the draft, and it’s why his potential landing spot in Dallas has been a talking point since then.
The Mavericks have already shown a willingness to take chances on former first-rounders who weren’t fully appreciated elsewhere, pointing to moves for Zaccharie Risacher, Marcus Sasser, and Howard this summer. Taking Clayton would fit that pattern. More importantly, it would address a real need: a true guard presence behind Irving.
Dallas is still building with Cooper Flagg in mind, and Clayton’s pedigree as a shot creator gives the Mavericks a chance to add another piece who can grow in that structure. His rookie efficiency wasn’t where it needs to be, but the runway would be there in Dallas.
In Other News...
Mavericks Just Made A Veteran Roster Call That Says Everything
The Mavericks latest frontcourt move says plenty about where the franchise is headed. After bringing back Dwight Powell, a longtime veteran presence who has given the team stability inside, Dallas found itself sorting through a crowded roster and the realities of who it wants to invest in now. The decision points to a front office balancing short-term familiarity with a broader push to keep building for the future.
Moussa Cisse is at the center of that calculus. His game is still raw, but the Mavericks have clearly decided that his development matters more than leaning on an established option to soak up a roster spot. For a team managing depth in the paint, it is a sign that Dallas is willing to make uncomfortable veteran calls if it believes the long view is worth it. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Final Roster Cut Ends A 12-Year Dallas Run
Dwight Powells 12-year run in Dallas has come to an end, with the Mavericks waiving the veteran center as they trimmed their roster to the regular-season limit. Powell had come back on an Exhibit 10 contract before training camp, a familiar move for a player who has spent so much of his career as one of the franchises most trusted steady hands.
The decision closes a long chapter for a player the organization has repeatedly leaned on for professionalism and consistency. Team officials, including president Masai Ujiri and coach Dusty May, were complimentary of Powells impact, but the roster squeeze left no room to keep him around as Dallas finalized its 15-man group. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Face A Roster Squeeze If This Big Man Hits The Market
The Mavericks still have some trimming to do before the Oct. 19 roster deadline, and Moussa Cisse appears to be one of the names most vulnerable as Dallas sorts out the back end of the roster. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that if Cisse is waived, there would be no shortage of interest around the league, with teams already watching how the situation unfolds.
For Dallas, that creates a familiar late-camp decision point, where a young players future can hinge on timing as much as talent. The Hawks are among the teams said to be interested if Cisse becomes available, along with Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, setting up a possible scramble should he clear waivers and hit the open market. [Read more 🡒]