Hours before the Dallas Mavericks are set to commence the 2026-27 NBA season, a franchise seeking some positive momentum has just made a significant acquisition.
Walter Clayton Jr., who guided Florida to the national championship in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament during the 2025-26 season as a senior, has decided to join Dallas after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Memphis decision took many by surprise.
This development could similarly astonish, as Clayton has finalized a two-way NBA contract with the Mavericks.
As noted leading up to this situation …
The Dallas Mavericks might have a favorable position to sign him.
Memphis released the 6-4 guard on Monday, even though last season he scored an average of 9.7 points per game, provided 5.7 assists, and recorded a 31 percent success rate on 3-point shots.
In his final collegiate season, Clayton averaged 18.3 points and 5.7 assists per game, along with a shooting percentage of 39 from beyond the arc on 303 attempts.
During his college career, Clayton received consensus All-American accolades and was recognized as the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four after posting averages of 22.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists throughout Florida’s six NCAA tournament matches.
That narrative from college is now a chapter in the Mavericks’ history, as fellow journalist Marc Stein suggested Clayton could possibly be heading to Dallas, recalling that Mavs coach Dusty May once sought to recruit him to Michigan.
Perhaps that connection still exists.
Stein writes: “The Mavericks have emerged as a primary candidate to sign Walter Clayton Jr. upon his clearance from waivers, as reported by @TheSteinLine.”
The Washington Wizards picked Clayton with the 18th overall selection but he was subsequently traded on draft night to the Utah Jazz.
Clayton participated in 45 games with the Jazz, where he averaged 6.8 points and 3.2 assists, achieving a 31-percent shooting rate from 3-point range before his trade to the Grizzlies.
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Reports indicate that Memphis sought to trade Clayton, with the Sacramento Kings (and possibly the Mavericks) expressing interest. However, no transactions were finalized before the roster deadline on Monday at 4 p.m. CT.
Clayton is entitled to $4.2 million for this season under his rookie-scale contract. … and if the reports hold true, this must have posed limited challenges for a Dallas franchise that is aiming to rebuild under the guidance of 19-year-old Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, a rehabilitated nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving, and new head coach May who may leverage his collegiate ties to assist the Mavericks as they strive to recover from a disappointing 26-win season in 2025-26.
The Mavs’ season opener is on Wednesday, with a matchup against the Houston Rockets. … and they will do so welcoming a new asset to their lineup.
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