Mavericks' Walter Clayton Jr. signing sparks a two-way roster battle

The Dallas Mavericks signed Walter Clayton Jr. to a two-way contract earlier this week, leaving Clayton Jr., Tobi Lawal, and Jett Howard as the team's three two-way players. With Clayton Jr. now in this mix, it could end up being a battle between these three players to earn a standard contract by the end of the season.

Dallas has done an incredible job of developing their two-way players, as shown by Ryan Nembhard, Moussa Cisse, and Brandon Williams' growth over the last few years (despite Nembhard and Williams no longer being on the team). The Mavericks seemingly always have one of their two-way players earn a standard contract afterward, and it's going to be a good competition between Clayton, Howard, and Lawal to see who deserves a spot on the 15-man roster.

Dallas needed a player like Walter Clayton Jr.

Last season for the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies, Clayton averaged 7.8 points and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 38.4 percent from the field and 30.7 percent from long range. His 3-point jumper cooled off after shooting 38.6 percent from three on 7.8 attempts per game as a senior at Florida, but his success in college, combined with the fact that he shot over 90 percent from the free-throw line as a rookie, should give Mavs fans confidence that he can be a strong shooter in the NBA.

Dallas desperately needed a player of Clayton's skill set to join the backcourt, and they now have a guard who can create his own shot outside of Marcus Sasser and Kyrie Irving. His addition to the roster should prove to be valuable, as their guard depth is thin, and he could play himself into a long-term contract if he has a bounce-back season.

Jett Howard is more than a shooter

Despite the obvious potential that Clayton brings, the other two-way guys have a clear opportunity to break out as well. Howard enters his fourth season in the NBA after being underutilized in Orlando, and a change of scenery could be exactly what the fourth-year forward needs.

The Mavs obviously need more 3-point shooting after shooting 11-for-37 in their first game on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets, and Howard shot a career-high 37.2 percent from three last season.

Howard is the most high-profile player in this group, as he was drafted with the No. 11 overall pick in 2023, and his game has more to it than just being a standstill shooter. He's an underrated driver and finisher around the basket, and he has a good handle at 6-foot-8.

Tobi Lawal could become the Mavs' next hidden gem

Lawal joins Howard as the other frontcourt player in Dallas' two-way group, and the promise he showed during the preseason has Mavs fans fired up. He put up 16 points against the New Orleans Pelicans, showing off his ability to finish around the basket as a cutter, set screens, and play strong defense.

The former Virginia Tech Hokie has aspirations of becoming the best defender in the NBA one day, and his high hopes and athleticism make him an intriguing long-term prospect. Masai Ujiri has compared him to OG Anunoby, and if he gets anywhere close to being that type of player, Dallas will be thrilled.

Clayton makes this battle even more intriguing

Clayton joining this group of two-way players made things much more interesting for the 2026-27 season, and each player has a specific path to earning a standard contract with the Mavs.

Clayton needs to prove that his shooting can improve, Howard must do more than knock down open shots, and Lawal has to develop his offensive game. This is one of the best two-way groups Dallas has had, and the Clayton signing sparks an intriguing roster battle for fans to watch this season.

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