The Dallas Mavericks look to be closing in on Walter Clayton Jr., and that could leave the Golden State Warriors watching another opportunity pass them by.
Clayton was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday after getting caught in their roster crunch. That put him on the market just as teams around the league started sizing up their back end of the roster, and Dallas appears to be the team moving fastest.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Tuesday that the Mavericks are nearing a deal once Clayton clears waivers. The Sacramento Kings have also been involved, with interest picking up after the season-ending torn Achilles injury to Ben Simmons. Stein added that the former No. 18 overall pick is likely headed to Dallas if he clears waivers.
For Clayton, the path right now looks like a two-way contract as he begins his second NBA season. Most teams, including the Warriors, do not have a standard roster spot open to start the year. Dallas, though, does have room on a two-way deal.
Golden State’s situation is more frustrating because this is not a new name for them. The Warriors had interest in Clayton before the draft less than 18 months ago, and yet there’s little sign they’re pushing to bring him in now. If they truly wanted to act, they could make the room by waiving Malevy Leons or LJ Cryer, since they do not have an available two-way slot.
That’s what makes this feel like a missed chance. Clayton may not be a finished product, but he brings real value on a two-way contract and still has clear upside. He’s been compared to a poor man’s Jamal Murray, which only adds to the appeal.
Instead, Golden State seems to be staying the course. The Warriors have leaned hard into continuity heading into opening night, even on the two-way side of the roster. When they’ve chosen to take chances, it has usually been with players already in their orbit and dealing with health questions.
For fans who were already underwhelmed by the offseason, especially after the missed pursuit of LeBron James, Clayton is just the latest example of a player they had a real chance to chase and didn’t.
In Other News...
Warriors May Be Forced Into A Frontcourt Move Sooner Than Expected
Kristaps Porzingis being sidelined by an illness and Charles Bassey dealing with knee tendinitis has left the Warriors with a thinner center rotation than they likely expected this early. For now, Golden State is leaning on Al Horford, whose minutes will be managed, and two-way big man Graham Ike as it tries to keep the middle of the floor covered.
The situation has put a spotlight on a frontcourt group that already looked like a potential pressure point, and it may force the Warriors to move sooner than planned if the shortage lingers. With the season moving along, the team is expected to weigh whether adding more center depth, or even a better option, becomes necessary to stabilize the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Kerrs Jimmy Butler Update Says A Lot About Warriors Ceiling
The Warriors are heading into their 2026-27 opener against the Lakers without Jimmy Butler, and that alone puts an early spotlight on how they navigate the first stretch of the season. Butler is still working back from the torn ACL he suffered a year ago, but Steve Kerrs latest update suggested the veteran wing is moving in the right direction, with Kerr noting that Butler has been doing well and was recently spotted getting in work in the teams weight room.
Kerr also made clear that Butler remains a different kind of presence when he is around the group, which matters for a Warriors team trying to keep its ceiling intact while waiting on his return. The bigger question now is not just when Butler gets back on the floor, but how much his mentality and two-way edge can eventually raise the standard for a team that will be measured from the start by how it handles these early games without him. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Injury Crunch Puts Steve Kerr In A Tough Lakers Decision
Brandin Podziemski has been ruled out for the Warriors game against the Lakers, adding another layer to a rotation that is already being stretched by injuries. Golden State has been dealing with a long list of unavailable or uncertain bodies, with Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis, Moses Moody and Charles Bassey all either sidelined or questionable as Steve Kerr tries to patch together a workable lineup.
Will Richard, meanwhile, is suddenly in the conversation again after being out of the mix recently. With so many pieces in flux, the Warriors may need to lean on depth they have not had to trust much lately, and that makes the pregame decisions even more important against a Lakers team that can punish any shortage of available defenders or ball handlers. [Read more 🡒]