Dallas Mavericks Emerge As Leading Contender To Land Walter Clayton Jr. Once He Clears Waivers
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks have emerged as a leading contender to land Walter Clayton Jr. when the second-year guard clears waivers, Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported Tuesday.
The Memphis Grizzlies waived Clayton and forward Micah Peavy on Monday to get down to 15 players on standard contracts before the league’s 4 p.m. CT deadline to set regular-season rosters. Memphis had entered the day with 17.
If no team claims him, Clayton will clear waivers Wednesday, the same day Dallas opens the regular season at the Houston Rockets. Tip-off at Toyota Center is set for 7:30 p.m. CT.
Dallas Mavericks Have One Two-Way Spot Open After Final Roster Cuts
Dallas got down to 15 standard contracts on Monday by waiving center Dwight Powell after 12 seasons. Powell had been the only one of the Mavericks’ 16 players on standard deals without a fully guaranteed salary.
Two days earlier, Dallas waived guards John Poulakidas and Seth Lundy. Poulakidas had been on a two-way contract. The Mavericks now carry two players on two-way deals, Jett Howard and Tobi Lawal, with the third spot open.
A team that claims Clayton off waivers would take on the roughly $4.2M he is owed this season on his rookie-scale contract. If he goes unclaimed, that salary stays on the Grizzlies’ books, and his third-year team option for 2027-28 will be declined as part of the transaction. Memphis is carrying about $6.4M in dead money from releasing Clayton and Peavy.
Clayton, who has one season of NBA service, is eligible for a two-way contract, which is open to players with fewer than four years in the league. Stein’s report did not specify what type of contract Dallas would offer.
Walter Clayton Jr. Split His Rookie Season Between Utah Jazz And Memphis Grizzlies
Last week, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported that the Grizzlies were exploring trade scenarios involving Clayton. Fischer also wrote that the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors were among the teams that rated Clayton highly going back to the 2025 draft.
On Monday morning, Stein and Fischer reported that Memphis was actively trying to trade Clayton before the deadline. The Sacramento Kings emerged as a possible destination while weighing a guard addition after Ben Simmons tore his Achilles tendon. No trade came together before the deadline.
On June 25, 2025, the Washington Wizards took Clayton with the 18th pick and traded his rights to the Utah Jazz. He appeared in 45 games for Utah without a start, averaging 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.
With the Grizzlies, Clayton made six starts in 24 games and averaged 9.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 25.0 minutes. He shot 36.6% from the field and 30.7% from three-point range in Memphis. On April 5, he matched his career high with 20 points in a 131-115 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Clayton finished his rookie season with averages of 7.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 69 games. He shot 38.4% from the field, 30.7% from three-point range, and 90.1% from the free-throw line.
Sacramento opened a two-way spot of its own Monday by releasing guard Adam Flagler.
