The Golden State Warriors are seeing the hope and impact that a young player can bring through Yaxel Lendeborg right now, but they already have reason to regret sleeping on an opportunity to acquire Walter Clayton Jr. earlier in the month.
Clayton became available on the eve of the season after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies. The Warriors had interest in trading into the first-round of the draft to acquire him just 18 months ago, yet weren't part of the equation more recently as Clayton joined the Dallas Mavericks on a two-way contract.
Warriors have reason to regret sleeping on Walter Clayton Jr. opportunity
Clayton has wasted no time making a strong impression in Dallas, having played a critical role in Monday night's 113-109 victory over the more fancied Heat in Miami. The 23-year-old had 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and a block in just 17 minutes off the bench, shooting 6-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-2 from three-point range.
Clayton is quickly flashing the potential that nearly made him a lottery pick just last year, and why the Warriors were interested in the Florida product despite trading their first-round pick to the Miami Heat in the Jimmy Butler trade months earlier.
Many Mavericks fans have been left shocked that their front office was able to land Clayton on a two-way contract, including The Smoking Cuban's Noah Weber who believes the young guard could be a long-term part of their future built around Cooper Flagg.
"The Mavericks' backcourt needed one more player who can create for themselves and run the offense, and Clayton looks like the solution to that hole. He looks worthy of a standard contract after just a few games, and he could quickly establish himself as a key piece of Dallas' core if he continues to play this well," Weber wrote.
Warriors missed obvious Walter Clayton Jr. move
Clayton would have sat behind Stephen Curry as a point guard at the Warriors, just as he is now with returning star Kyrie Irving. Perhaps too he would have been behind Brandon Williams as a lead ball-handler and creator off the bench.
Yet Saturday's game in Phoenix proved Curry will rest plenty of games this season. Even if those games are almost automatic losses, particularly while Jimmy Butler is also still out, having another young player to watch develop would have been exciting.
The Warriors had a chance for a swing at a high upside option they were previously interested in, only to be content entering the season with the likes of LJ Cryer and Malevy Leons on two-way contracts.
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