The Memphis Grizzlies are staring at a roster squeeze, and it has pushed them into exploring trades before the October 19 deadline to trim their standard roster to 15 players. Jake Fischer reported that Memphis has been looking into possibilities involving GG Jackson II and Walter Clayton Jr., as the team tries to sort out its numbers.
Two teams to keep an eye on are the Golden State Warriors and the Miami Heat. Per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, both clubs had previously rated Clayton highly, which gives them a place in the conversation if Memphis decides to move the rookie.
There is also a waiver possibility hanging over the roster. Fischer said Micah Peavy, acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans in September, is the player most at risk if the Grizzlies can’t line up another trade.
He wrote, “If Peavy and Hawkins are both waived by the Grizzlies, that leaves one more player needing to be cut. Kris Murray would be the obvious answer, assuming he doesn't stand out in camp.”
Memphis finished the preseason with 16 players on fully guaranteed contracts, and Jaylen Wells is expected to make the team as well. That means the Grizzlies still need to clear space before the deadline arrives.
What makes Clayton’s situation notable is that Memphis’s view of him has shifted. In February, when the Grizzlies negotiated their return in the blockbuster trade that sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah, sources said the team valued Clayton highly.
For now, the question is whether Memphis can get a deal done involving Clayton or Jackson before turning to more waivers. The Warriors and Heat remain worth watching because of their past interest in Clayton, but it is still unclear whether that interest will lead anywhere before the offseason runs out.
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Grizzlies Just Made A Roster Cut That Could Cost Them A Rookie Guard
The Grizzlies are trimming down to the regular-season limit by waiving Walter Clayton Jr. and Micah Peavy, a procedural move that still carries some real roster intrigue. Clayton arrived in Memphis from the Utah Jazz in a trade, and even though both players have guaranteed contracts for this season, the decision reflects how quickly the back end of a roster can get crowded once the calendar turns toward opening night.
For Clayton, there is a little more suspense than usual around a standard cut. Sacramento recently created room on a two-way slot, and that gives another team a chance to take a look at the rookie guard before Memphis can settle in with its final group. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are making their choices with an eye on flexibility beyond this season, since neither player has guaranteed money past 2026/27. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Suddenly Have A Backcourt Decision Worth Watching
Memphis is in the middle of a roster squeeze, and the deadline pressure is starting to create movement on the edges of the lineup. With the Grizzlies needing to get down to 15 players, they are reportedly looking to move second-year guard Walter Clayton Jr. before the cutoff, a familiar kind of late-cycle decision for a team trying to balance flexibility, depth and roster compliance.
Sacramento has surfaced as a possible landing spot, with the Kings exploring guard options after Ben Simmons injury changed their backcourt equation. They have also reached out to the Milwaukee Bucks about Kevin Porter Jr., which gives this search a broader feel than a single target, but it also leaves Memphis watching a market that could decide where Clayton ends up, and whether the Kings keep digging for help at the position. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Suddenly Face A Walter Clayton Jr. Decision Fans Will Watch
Ben Simmons season-ending Achilles tear has reshaped the Kings backcourt picture, and Sacramento is now looking around the market for help as the roster cutdown deadline approaches. One name that has surfaced in the chatter is Walter Clayton Jr., the 23-year-old guard who split last season between the Utah Jazz and the Memphis Grizzlies after entering the league as a first-round pick.
For Memphis, the timing adds an extra layer of intrigue because Clayton is suddenly in the middle of a decision the front office has to weigh quickly. The Grizzlies have a short window to sort out his future, and with Sacramento reportedly interested, this is the kind of late-stage roster move that can change how the final spot or two comes together before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]