With the NBA Draft being just over a week away, NBA fans from across the country can't wait for the young basketball stars from across the world to shake Adam Silver's hand and find out where they will begin their NBA careers. The Dallas Mavericks have the easiest choice of all, as they will select Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick after winning the NBA Draft Lottery despite only having 1.8 percent odds of doing so, but that isn't the only move that Nico Harrison and Dallas could make.
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Dallas is interested in trading for an additional first-round pick, and with their desperate need for more guard help, Walter Clayton Jr., out of the University of Florida, would be an outstanding fit on the Mavs. Clayton Jr. wowed fans throughout the NCAA Tournament with his unreal shot-making and unteachable clutch gene, and he is a prospect the Mavs should eye next week if they do indeed trade back into the first round.
Last season for Florida, Clayton Jr. averaged 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from 3-point land on 7.8 attempts per game. Clayton Jr.'s stellar season helped lead the Gators all the way to a National Championship win over the Houston Cougars, and he has all the tools to be a high-level guard at the NBA level.
Mavericks should trade into the first round for Walter Clayton Jr.
Clayton Jr.'s 3-point shooting would give the Mavericks a major bump in an area that needs improving, as they were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league down the final stretch of last season, as he is deadly off the catch or off the dribble. His confidence as a shooter is what stands out, as he isn't afraid to let it fly from multiple feet beyond the arc and isn't affected by defenders that are closing out on him.
Clayton Jr. is also an underrated off-ball mover who can drill threes when coming off screens or when the ball is swung to him, and the Mavericks need this type of guard. Once Kyrie Irving is healthy, Clayton Jr. would have to play off the ball much more, and he is easily capable of that.
Dallas' backcourt is currently a disaster, as the only two creators under contract are Jaden Hardy and Brandon Williams, and they must address this need adequately. Drafting a guard is one of the best ways to do that, as they would add a young, cost-controlled player who would experience his rookie year next to Flagg, and they would help kickstart the new era of Mavs hoops. Clayton Jr. would give Dallas exactly what they are looking for, as they need ball handling and playmaking, and his ability to play either guard spot is appealing.
Along with his scorching shooting, Clayton Jr. is difficult to stop in transition and is a solid playmaker. He may not be the lead guard that the Mavericks badly need until Irving comes back, but he can be a secondary ball handler and scorer who takes care of the rock and can drill open shots.
On the other end of the floor, Clayton Jr. is a competitor and he has the strength and versatility to defend either guard spot. With the Mavericks having such a good defensive back line which includes Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II, all they would need is for him to be bought in and engaged.
Clayton Jr. has been a favorite draft target for Mavericks fans for months, and as draft night gets rolling, he could be the type of player that Harrison targets. This speculation from fans intensified after the Mavs attended Clayton Jr.'s Klutch Pro Day last month, and with the Mavs having multiple Klutch athletes on their roster (Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Jaden Hardy), this could set them up in a great spot to select him if Klutch likes the potential fit.
One thing about Clayton Jr. that may drive teams away is the fact that he is already 22 years old after playing four years in college, but that could actually work in his favor in Dallas.
The Mavericks need someone who is experienced and ready to contribute right away, and Clayton Jr. fits that mold to a tee. He showed the entire world that he isn't afraid of the big moment with several clutch performances throughout the NCAA Tournament, and Dallas should roll the dice with another older guard in the draft just like they did with Jalen Brunson back in 2018.
As the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft inches closer, Mavericks fans' eyes will be glued to their phone for any news or rumors surrounding the draft, and fans across DFW seem excited about the opportunity to bring in Clayton Jr. Landing an additonal first-round pick in the draft may cost a steep price depending on where the Mavericks want to pick, and they may be forced to give up someone like Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, or Jaden Hardy.
While the Mavericks want to keep both Gafford and Washington, this could be a move they explore as they need to shed some money, especially after officially signing Flagg. Trading either one of those players would be a crushing blow, considering all they have done for the franchise, and Clayton Jr. would have some high expectations set for him if the Mavs do make an aggressive trade and make him a co-rookie alongside Flagg.
