Walter Clayton Jr.’s stint in Memphis is sliding toward a tough ending, and the Grizzlies still have a roster squeeze to solve.
The first-round pick, taken 18th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft and sent to Memphis in the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade, has not done enough to separate himself in preseason. That matters because the Grizzlies have already trimmed one name, waiving Jordan Hawkins to move closer to 15 standard contracts, and there are still two cuts left to make.
Clayton Jr.’s biggest issue has been the same one that haunted him after the trade deadline last season: shotmaking. He entered the preseason needing to show he could hit enough shots to hold his place, especially after looking promising as a shooter in the pre-draft process. Instead, the production has stayed uneven and the efficiency has lagged.
Through three preseason games, Clayton Jr. has averaged 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 13.3 minutes per game. The numbers on the surface are serviceable, but the shooting splits tell the real story. He has hit just 31.6% from the field and 18.2% from three.
That kind of output is a problem in Iisalo’s system, where shotmaking carries real weight. With one preseason game left, Clayton Jr. simply hasn’t made a strong enough case to stick.
There was at least some room for optimism before camp, since Zach Kleiman had previously praised Clayton Jr.’s toughness and winning. But that never turned into a convincing preseason push, and the missed Summer League because of injury only narrowed his chances further.
Now the Grizzlies are staring at a straightforward decision. With two roster cuts still needed, Micah Peavy, Kris Murray, and Walter Clayton Jr. are the names most likely to be in the mix, and Clayton Jr.’s case is looking thinner by the day.
In Other News...
Ty Jerome Has A Real Chance To Force Memphis Into A Decision
Ty Jerome enters this season in an interesting spot for Memphis, with his contract already running through the current and next year and a player option beyond that. The Grizzlies brought him in with the idea that he could help stabilize the backcourt, and last season offered a glimpse of why that mattered, even if injuries kept the sample size smaller than anyone would have liked.
Jerome showed enough playmaking and scoring punch to make the question bigger than just one healthy stretch. If he can stay on the floor and keep producing, Memphis may have to think harder about what comes next for him, because a strong season could turn a manageable arrangement into a much tougher roster call. [Read more 🡒]