Sources: Walter Clayton Jr. Signing Two-Way Contract With Dallas Mavericks After Clearing Waivers
DALLAS — Walter Clayton Jr. is signing a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks after none of the league’s other 29 teams put in a waiver claim on him by Wednesday’s 4 p.m. CT deadline, sources told Dallas Sports Journal.
The Memphis Grizzlies cut Clayton and forward Micah Peavy on Monday, the league’s deadline to set regular-season rosters, after starting the day with 17 players on standard contracts. The roughly $4.2M Clayton is owed this season on his rookie-scale deal stays on the Grizzlies’ books.
On Tuesday, Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported that Dallas had emerged as a leading contender to land Clayton once he cleared. Stein also reported that the Sacramento Kings, looking for guard help after Ben Simmons tore his Achilles tendon, tried to trade for Clayton over the weekend. In a second post, Stein reported that Mavericks coach Dusty May recruited Clayton in college.
Walter Clayton Jr. Takes Dallas Mavericks’ Final Two-Way Spot
Dallas opened the spot Saturday by waiving John Poulakidas from his two-way deal. Seth Lundy, who had been in camp on an Exhibit 10 contract, was waived the same day. In 13 games for Dallas after signing a two-year, two-way contract in March, Poulakidas averaged 8.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 19.5 minutes and made 40.3% of his three-point attempts.
Jett Howard and Tobi Lawal hold the Mavericks’ other two two-way contracts. Dallas signed Howard, the 11th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, to his two-way deal on July 20. Lawal was the Mavericks’ 48th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Two days after cutting Poulakidas, Dallas got down to 15 standard contracts by waiving Dwight Powell after 12 seasons with the franchise. With Clayton signed, the Mavericks will carry 15 players on standard deals and three on two-way contracts into Wednesday night’s opener at the Houston Rockets, where tip-off at Toyota Center is set for 7:30 p.m. CT.
Two-way players can be active for up to 50 regular-season games and are ineligible for the postseason unless they are promoted to a standard contract. The full-season two-way salary for 2026-27 is $678,882, which is half of the rookie minimum. Eligibility is limited to players with fewer than four years of NBA service, and Clayton has one. Dallas’ two-way players also suit up for the Texas Legends, the Mavericks’ G League affiliate.
Clayton Split His Rookie Season Between Utah Jazz And Memphis Grizzlies
The Washington Wizards took Clayton 18th overall on June 25, 2025, and traded his rights to the Utah Jazz. In 45 games for the Jazz, all off the bench, he averaged 6.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 18.0 minutes.
On Feb. 3, the Jazz sent Clayton to Memphis in the eight-player trade that brought Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah. Clayton made six starts in 24 games with the Grizzlies and averaged 9.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 25.0 minutes. On April 5, he matched his career high with 20 points in a 131-115 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Over 69 games as a rookie, Clayton averaged 7.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 20.4 minutes. He shot 38.4% from the field, 30.7% from three-point range, and 90.1% from the free-throw line.
