Mavs A 'Leading Contender' To Sign Ex-College Star After Shocking Cut

A once-bright prospect is on the street. Could that street lead from Memphis to Dallas?

Walter Clayton Jr., who led Florida to the 2025-26 NCAA men's basketball national championship as a senior, has been waived by the Memphis Grizzlies in what some view as a shocking move.

Even more shocking, maybe?

The Dallas Mavs might have an inside track to signing him.

Memphis waived the 6-4 guard on Monday, despite the fact that the former first-round pick last year scored 9.7 points per game, dishing out 5.7 assists and shooting 31 percent on 3-pointers.

And before that? During his final season in college, Clayton averaged 18.3 points and 5.7 assists per game, and shot 39 percent on 303 3-point attempts.

In college, Clayton earned consensus All-American honors and was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player after averaging 22.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in Florida's six NCAA tournament games.

That college story is part of the Mavs story now, as colleague Marc Stein, in suggesting Clayton might end up in Dallas, notes that once upon a time, now-Mavs coach Dusty May tried to recruit the prospect to Michigan.

And maybe the relationship remains in place.

Writes Stein: "The Mavericks have emerged a leading contender to land Walter Clayton Jr. when he clears waivers, @TheSteinLine has learned.''

The Washington Wizards selected Clayton No. 18 overall, but traded him on draft night to the Utah Jazz.

Clayton played 45 games for the Jazz, averaging 6.8 points and 3.2 assists with 31-percent 3-point shooting before being traded to the Grizzlies.

Word has been that Memphis attempted to trade Clayton with the Sacramento Kings (and maybe the Mavs) among those who were interested. But no deal came to be before Monday's 4 p.m. CT roster deadline.

Clayton is owed $4.2 million this season on his rookie-scale contract. ... and if the reports are true, that might not be much of an obstacle for a Dallas team that is trying to rebuild while being led by 19-year-old Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, rehabbed nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving and a new coach in May who might be able to use his college connections here in a way that would help the Mavs as they attempt to bounce back from a dismal 26-win campaign in the 2025-26 NBA season.

The Mavs open this season on Wednesday with a visit to the Houston Rockets.