The Bulls may already be done shopping, but one more name could force them to pause.
If the Memphis Grizzlies’ roster squeeze pushes Walter Clayton Jr. onto the open market, Chicago should give him a real look for that open 15th spot. The Bulls have already added Nic Claxton and Norman Powell, enough to keep them out of the “relegation zone” of the new Draft Lottery, and the bigger priority now is sorting out what they actually have. This season is about evaluation: Rob Dillingham, Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue, Patrick Williams, and Leonard Miller are all part of that long-term picture, and the front office needs to see how they fit into the rebuild.
That’s why the last roster spot makes sense as a placeholder. Unless a perfect fit shows up, Chicago can keep that slot open for mid-season maneuvering, whether that’s a trade or the buyout market. Clayton is the kind of possibility that could change that plan.
The reason he stands out is pretty straightforward. Clayton has the kind of defensive and perimeter-shooting upside that can matter in the backcourt over the long haul, and if the Bulls are unsure where things are headed with Dillingham’s contract, he could give them some insurance at point guard.
Coming into the league, Clayton had a reputation as a fierce competitor who helped Florida win a championship and showed enough scoring punch and secondary creation to get first-round attention from Utah. He wasn’t a lottery-level prospect because of his age and limited top-end athleticism, but the Jazz still saw enough to make him a worthy first-round pick.
Since then, though, he’s slipped out of the spotlight. Utah moved him in the package to land Jaren Jackson Jr., and there’s now a real chance Memphis has to move on from him after bringing in Jordan Hawkins from the New Orleans Pelicans. The Grizzlies have 19 players on standard contracts and need to get that number down to 15 before the regular season starts.
Clayton’s rookie year wasn’t eye-popping: 7.8 points, two rebounds, and four assists per game, with 38.4% shooting from the field across 69 games split between Utah and Memphis. Still, at 6'4" and 195 lbs, he brings a blend of size, defensive potential, and scoring variety that fits what Chicago should be hunting in its backcourt.
The real question for the Bulls would be how Clayton stacks up against Dillingham as a developmental bet. Dillingham probably has the higher ceiling as an on-ball creator, but his lack of length and physical tools point to a career of defensive problems. He also hasn’t shown much from three-point range, which could give Clayton the edge as an offensive fit.
Neither player is a clean long-term keep. Dillingham’s fourth-year team option is due by Oct. 31, which makes training camp his main chance to convince Chicago to absorb his $8.7 million salary for 2026-27. Clayton, on the other hand, would still be under team control for three more seasons.
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