Clayton turns 17 minutes into a real rotation argument

What changed

Walter Clayton Jr. needed only 17 minutes to change the feel of the Dallas bench. He scored 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, made both of his threes and added four rebounds and four assists in the 113-109 win at Miami. His plus-22 was the best mark on the team.

The timing makes the performance more interesting. Memphis waived Clayton on October 19, Dallas signed him to a two-way contract on October 21, and he described the transition as smooth before Monday’s game. Five days after joining the Mavericks, he supplied efficient scoring without abandoning the ball movement.

One game does not settle a rotation. It does give Dusty May another useful data point: Clayton can space the floor, make the next pass and keep a second unit from stalling. His two-way status limits his NBA availability, so the question is not only whether he deserves another look, but how Dallas allocates those opportunities.