The Memphis Grizzlies’ reported willingness to shop Walter Clayton Jr. has created a path the Denver Nuggets should be paying close attention to.
Clayton was supposed to be part of a major return when Memphis sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, but just about eight months later, his name is already floating in trade talks. That shift alone makes him one of the more intriguing possible targets on the market, especially for a Nuggets team that could use another steady option behind Jamal Murray.
At 23, Clayton was the No. 18 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and his rookie season was a mixed bag. He did not score efficiently, but he showed real value as a creator for others. He also has not yet had the chance to work alongside a playmaker like Nikola Jokic, which is no small detail when projecting what he might look like in Denver.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported that Memphis is already testing the market.
"I'm told, however, that the Grizzlies have been exploring potential trade markets for GG Jackson II and Walter Clayton Jr. Which is quite a turn from Memphis' original stance on Clayton. Back in February, when the Grizzlies were negotiating their return in the blockbuster Jaren Jackson Jr. trade with Utah, sources say Memphis valued Clayton quite highly."
For Denver, the appeal is easy to see. Clayton is not a finished product, but he brings a blend of passing ability and ball security that could fit into the Nuggets’ setup. He also looks like the kind of player the team could develop rather than simply rent for a short stretch.
His rookie numbers back up that case. In the 2025-26 season, Clayton averaged 7.8 points, 4.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 1.1 three-point field goals made in 20.4 minutes per game. Per 36 minutes, that jumps to 13.7 points, 7.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.9 made threes.
The shot making was the clear weak spot. Clayton hit just .384/.307/.901, though he did arrive with a strong college résumé as a shooter. Across four seasons in college, he made 38.6 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc, which leaves room to believe the rookie version is not the final version.
The quality of his looks was part of the problem, too. Basketball Index had Clayton in the 39th percentile in three-point shot quality and the 28th percentile in overall shot quality as a rookie. A Denver offense guided by David Adelman and fueled by Jokic’s passing would almost certainly give him cleaner opportunities than he saw in Memphis.
And even with the rough efficiency, Clayton showed enough with the ball to stand out. He ranked in the 91st percentile in assists per 75 possessions as a rookie and finished in the 70th percentile in rim shot creation. For a Nuggets team that needs more creation beyond Jokic and Murray, those are useful traits.
There is also the matter of his presence with the ball. Clayton ranked in the 87th percentile in on-ball gravity in 2025-26, a notable mark for a first-year player. Maybe the environment helped shape that number, but defenses clearly took notice whenever he had possession.
That is the kind of profile Denver should at least be interested in if Memphis really is open for business.
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