Mavericks emerge as leading contender for Grizzlies' Walter Clayton Jr.
Clayton averaged 7.8 points and 4 assists in 69 games for Memphis last season, and our impact rating placed him 361st of 379 players.
- Clayton: 7.8 points, 4 assists per game in 2025-26
- Last 10 games: 11.7 points, 5.1 assists
- Mavericks went 26-56 last season
1 min read via Marc Stein, Shams CharaniaHow this story was written
The Dallas Mavericks have emerged as a leading contender to land guard Walter Clayton Jr. when he clears waivers, The Stein Line's Marc Stein reported Tuesday. The report is not official.
Clayton played for the Memphis Grizzlies last season. In 2025-26 he averaged 7.8 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in 20.5 minutes over 69 games, with six starts. He shot 52.3 percent true shooting with a usage rate of 18.7 percent.
His production rose late in the year. Over his last 10 games, three of them starts, he averaged 11.7 points and 5.1 assists in 25.1 minutes. Memphis was outscored by 13.6 points per game in that stretch, and by 4.1 per game across the season with him on the floor.
Keel Impact, our player rating, put Clayton at -3 points per 100 possessions against an average player, 361st of 379 players with 500 minutes or more.
Dallas finished 2025-26 at 26-56 with a net rating of -5.3, 23rd of 30 teams. The Mavericks ranked 27th in offensive rating and 20th in defensive rating. Memphis went 25-57 with a net rating of -5.8, 24th in the league.
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Reported byMarc Stein, Shams Charania
Marc Stein@TheSteinLine · The Stein Line
The Mavericks have emerged a leading contender to land Walter Clayton Jr. when he clears waivers, @TheSteinLine has learned.
Shams Charania@ShamsCharania · ESPN
Guard Walter Clayton Jr. has agreed on a two-way NBA deal with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/B43kDQxQjL
Marc Stein@TheSteinLine · The Stein Line
Walter Clayton Jr., as stated, has already committed to joining Dallas and Dalton Knecht is among this group of new free agents drawing interest, league sources say, from multiple teams pitching the former Laker on a two-way deal. https://t.co/9cAY11UWRP
Shams Charania@ShamsCharania · ESPN
Former Lakers forward Dalton Knecht has agreed to sign with the New York Knicks on a two-way NBA contract, his agents at Excel Sports Management tell ESPN. https://t.co/1gePugMy3Z
Shams Charania@ShamsCharania · ESPN
Former Pelicans second-rounder Micah Peavy has agreed on a two-way NBA deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, sources tell ESPN.
From the reports quoted here and Keel Stats data; every number is checked against them before publishing.
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