The Grizzlies moved first, waiving forward Zach Cleveland on Saturday and trimming their roster to 20 players.
Cleveland was on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal, and Memphis now has 17 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals. The team still has work to do before reaching the regular-season limit of 15 standard contracts, though those final cuts may not come until Sunday or Monday because they’re likely to involve players with guaranteed money.
That timing matters around the league. Most teams are trying to get their final moves done on Saturday so players clear waivers before the regular season begins and clubs avoid dead money on the cap. For Memphis, though, releasing a player with a guaranteed salary would carry the same cap hit whether the move happens today, tomorrow, or Monday.
Cleveland, who went undrafted this June after playing at Liberty, is expected to land with the Memphis Hustle as an affiliate player. If he spends at least 60 days in the NBAGL, he’ll earn a $91K bonus.
The Lakers also made Saturday moves, putting Rafael Castro and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones on waivers, according to Law Murray of The Athletic. Both players appear headed for the Coachella Valley Lakers in the G League.
Los Angeles still needs at least one more transaction to get under the roster limit, but that decision may also wait until Sunday or Monday. The Lakers are trying to work the trade market first so they can avoid cutting a player with a guaranteed salary.
Dalton Knecht, the 2024 first-rounder, is viewed as the most likely name to move, either by trade or release. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that the Lakers have been in contact with the Bulls and Jazz, among other teams, and a previous report said they’ve also spoken with the Bucks about a possible Knecht deal. Siegel confirmed that too.
In Other News...
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 🡒]