After leaving the Memphis Grizzlies, the former No. 18 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft has found a new home in Dallas. According to ESPN journalist Shams Charania, he has signed a two-way contract that gives him another opportunity to fight for a place in the league.
Guard Walter Clayton Jr. has agreed on a two-way NBA deal with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/B43kDQxQjL
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 21, 2026
Clayton was left without a team when Memphis had to trim its roster to 15 players before the start of the regular season. Surprisingly, the Tennessee franchise decided to part ways with him after just one season in the league. Despite averaging 9.7 points and 5.7 assists in his first NBA season, the Grizzlies opted to back other players when finalising their roster, saying goodbye to someone who had appeared to be one of the key pieces in the package received in exchange for Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Mavericks have therefore opened the door for a player who was selected in the first round of the draft just last year. The Texas franchise, still shaping its roster for the future, already has Zaccharie Risacher, another young player looking for a fresh start after leaving the team that drafted him. With Clayton’s arrival, Dallas has another opportunity to land a potential bargain if things go well. First, though, it remains to be seen how many opportunities Dusty May will be willing to give him.