Walter Clayton Jr. is on the move-and he’s not going alone.
In a blockbuster trade that’s sure to shake up both conferences, the Memphis Grizzlies have acquired rookie guard Walter Clayton Jr., along with veterans Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, promising forward Taylor Hendricks, and three future first-round picks. Heading to the Utah Jazz in return? None other than All-Star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., plus John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr.
The deal, pending physicals and league approval, marks a major midseason pivot for both franchises.
Let’s start with the headliner: Clayton Jr. may be a rookie, but he’s not just a throw-in here. The 6-foot-4 guard has shown real flashes in his first NBA season with the Jazz. In 45 games off the bench, he’s averaged 6.8 points and 3.2 assists in 18 minutes per game-solid numbers for a young guard finding his footing behind Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier in Utah’s backcourt rotation.
The shooting numbers haven’t quite caught up yet-he’s hitting just under 40% from the field and 30.3% from deep-but Clayton’s nearly 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio speaks to a maturity in his decision-making that’s not always common in first-year players. There’s a steadiness to his game, and the Grizzlies clearly see something worth investing in.
If you followed Clayton’s college career, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Before making the leap to the NBA, Clayton was a star at Florida, where he transferred after a strong start at Iona. His final season in Gainesville was nothing short of electric.
He led the Gators to a national championship, earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors and consensus first-team All-America recognition along the way. He set Florida’s single-season scoring record with 713 points, averaging 18.3 per game and delivering when it mattered most-dropping 34 points in the Final Four against Auburn, and 30 more in the Elite Eight win over Texas Tech.
That made him the first player since Larry Bird to score 30+ in back-to-back games that late in the tournament.
And he didn’t just shine in March. Clayton also dominated the SEC Tournament, averaging 20.7 points while shooting 50% from beyond the arc (13-for-26) and leading Florida to its first conference tournament title since 2014. He walked away with MVP and All-Tournament Team honors.
The accolades piled up. Clayton was named the Southeastern Conference’s Roy F.
Kramer Male Athlete of the Year in July, becoming the first Florida men’s basketball player to receive the honor. That put him in elite company with the likes of Tim Tebow, Danny Wuerffel, and Caeleb Dressel-Florida legends who defined their eras.
And his college coach, Todd Golden, saw this coming. Before the 2025 NBA Draft, Golden was vocal about Clayton’s upside, comparing his potential trajectory to players like Damian Lillard and Fred VanVleet-guys who were overlooked early but became stars through sheer will, skill, and leadership.
Golden believed Clayton should’ve gone in the top 10. The Jazz took him at No.
Now, just months into his rookie campaign, Clayton is getting a fresh start in Memphis, where the Grizzlies are clearly thinking about the long-term. Pairing him with a young core that includes Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart gives Memphis another high-IQ guard who’s already shown he can rise to the moment.
This trade isn’t just about the now-it’s about building something sustainable. And Clayton Jr., with his winning pedigree, two-way potential, and relentless motor, might just be one of the most intriguing pieces of the deal.