The Mavericks moved quickly after waiving Dwight Powell, using the opening to add a promising backcourt piece in Walter Clayton Jr.
Dallas signed the former first-round pick to a two-way contract on Wednesday, giving the organization another young guard to develop after Clayton became available when Memphis cut him loose earlier in the week. The Grizzlies waived Clayton and Micah Peavy on Monday as they worked to lock in their regular-season roster before the 5 p.m. ET deadline.
“The Memphis Grizzlies are waiving 2025 No. 18 pick Walter Clayton Jr. and former second-round pick Micah Peavy, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Monday. The moves helped Memphis finalize its roster for the regular season by the 5 p.m.
ET cut-down deadline. The Grizzlies entered Monday with 17 players on standard contracts and three more on two-way deals,” ESPN’s Michael C.
Wright wrote.
Clayton’s path to Dallas is interesting beyond just his draft status. The national champion guard also played college basketball for Dusty May, giving the Mavericks another reason to take a look.
To clear space for Clayton, Dallas waived Powell on Monday, a move that came with real emotional weight inside the locker room. Kyrie Irving spoke warmly about Powell’s influence on the franchise.
“He’ll really be missed. He gave a lot to the franchise.
Just a consummate professional, good friend of mine, good friend of a bunch of us on the team, past and present. He represented a lot here in the city of Dallas, and he did a lot for us,” Irving said.
Powell’s exit closes a long and meaningful chapter for the Mavericks, but the team is also clearly trying to invest in what comes next. Clayton enters the organization with a reputation as a dangerous shooter in college, and Dallas will be hoping that touch returns at the NBA level.
Brett Siegel reported the signing Wednesday, and the Mavs are betting that Clayton’s scoring ability and comfort handling the ball can carry over. If Irving is traded for any reason, Dallas could eventually have a chance to give Clayton a larger role later in the season.
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