Dallas Mavericks sign Walter Clayton Jr. to two-way contract ahead of season opener
The former Florida standout joins the Mavericks roster just hours before their regular season tipoff against the Houston Rockets.
The Dallas Mavericks signed guard Walter Clayton Jr. to a two-way contract on Wednesday, adding the No. 18 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft to their roster ahead of their season opener against the Houston Rockets. Clayton cleared league waivers earlier in the day after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.
Clayton enters his second professional season after playing for two teams during his rookie campaign. Selected originally by the Washington Wizards in 2025 and immediately traded to the Utah Jazz, he later moved to Memphis as part of the trade package for Jaren Jackson Jr. Across 69 total appearances last season between Utah and Memphis, he averaged 7.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.
During his stint with the Grizzlies, Clayton posted averages of 9.7 points and 5.6 assists across 24 games, which included six starts. Although he experienced a slow start to his professional career, his performance improved late in the season; he scored in double figures in 11 of his final 18 contests and shot 50 percent from beyond the arc in April.
Under NBA two-way contract regulations, Clayton is eligible to play in up to 50 games for Dallas this season. However, he remains ineligible for postseason or play-in contests unless the organization converts his deal into a standard contract. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Clayton is expected to be active for Wednesday night's matchup at the Toyota Center.
The addition of Clayton provides immediate depth to a backcourt that requires rotation support behind star guard Kyrie Irving. Prior to his professional career, Clayton earned consensus All-American honors and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament after leading the University of Florida to a national title.
The Mavericks open the 2026-27 NBA campaign carrying high expectations under newly appointed head coach Dusty May. The team looks to rebound from a 26-56 record last season, bolstered by the return of Irving—who missed all of the previous year recovering from a torn ACL—alongside reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.