The Grizzlies are clearing room by moving on from two young players, waiving Walter Clayton Jr. and Micah Peavy, sources told Shams Charania of ESPN.
Memphis had been dealing with a crowded roster this fall, carrying 16 players on guaranteed contracts and Jaylen Wells on a partially guaranteed deal. By cutting Clayton and Peavy, the team will be set for the regular season.
The financial hit is real, too. Memphis will carry about $6.4MM in dead money after releasing Clayton, who is owed roughly $4.2MM this season, and Peavy, who is due about $2.2MM. Neither player has guaranteed money beyond 2026/27.
Clayton’s future may not be over with the Grizzlies just yet. Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported Monday afternoon that Memphis was exploring a trade involving Clayton, with the Kings mentioned as a possible landing spot.
Sacramento could still be in play if Clayton clears waivers. The Kings created a two-way opening Monday when they waived guard Adam Flagler.
Clayton arrived in Memphis in February as part of the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade after being acquired from the Jazz. The former Florida star was the No. 18 pick in the 2025 draft after helping lead the Gators to a national championship earlier that year.
As a rookie split between Utah and Memphis, the 23-year-old appeared in 69 combined games and averaged 7.8 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 20.4 minutes per game while shooting .384/.307/.901.
If Clayton does clear waivers, his third-year option for 2027/28 will be declined as part of the move.
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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 🡒]
Memphis Rebuild Comes Down To One Question Fans Can't Ignore
The reset in Memphis has already changed the look of the roster, with the Grizzlies moving on from Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane and leaning into a younger foundation. Around that group, the front office has added some stabilizing veteran pieces in Jerami Grant and Isaiah Stewart, giving the team a blend of development and experience as it tries to sort out what the next version of the franchise actually looks like.
What makes the coming season so hard to pin down is how much of the outlook depends on growth and health happening at the right time. Analysts see a wide range of outcomes for Memphis, from a competitive run at the play-in picture to a step back that leaves the season without a postseason berth, and the difference may come down to how quickly the new core can take shape. [Read more 🡒]