Grizzlies waive 2025 first-round pick Walter Clayton Jr. at roster deadline
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The gist
The Memphis Grizzlies waived guard Walter Clayton Jr., the 2025 No. 18 pick, at the roster deadline.
The former Florida national champion must now find a new NBA team.
Background
Walter Clayton Jr. is a guard who was the No. 18 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, a consensus All-American and Final Four Most Outstanding Player who led Florida to a national championship in his senior season. He was drafted by the Washington Wizards and traded to the Utah Jazz, then sent to Memphis on Feb. 3 in the eight-player deal that moved Jaren Jackson Jr. and others to Utah. The Grizzlies moved on after he failed to separate himself in a crowded point guard room during the preseason, with the team's guard rotation in flux amid injuries and a reported desire to trade Ja Morant.
How it unfolded
- 2025Clayton is drafted No. 18 in the first round by the Washington Wizards and traded to the Utah Jazz, after a senior season at Florida in which he averaged 18.3 points and led the Gators to a national title.
- Dec 7, 2025He scores a career-high 20 points with nine assists in a 131-101 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Feb 3, 2026Memphis acquires Clayton from Utah in the eight-player trade that sends Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. to the Jazz.
- Oct 19, 2026Reports say the Grizzlies are trying to trade Clayton before the 5 p.m. ET roster cutdown deadline, with Sacramento a possible destination.
- Oct 19, 2026Memphis waives Clayton and Micah Peavy, setting its roster at 15 standard contracts and three two-way deals.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- NBA reporter Marc Stein said the Grizzlies were actively seeking a trade for Clayton before the deadline, with Sacramento emerging as a possible destination.
- Caution
- NBC Sports reported the Grizzlies had hoped to trade Clayton earlier Monday but could not make a deal happen.
Still unverified
The reported Grizzlies effort to trade Clayton, with Sacramento as a possible destination, was attributed to league sources by Marc Stein and Jake Fischer; NBC Sports reported the team hoped to trade him earlier Monday but could not complete a deal.