Walter Clayton Jr.’s run with the Memphis Grizzlies is already over, but the next stop could come quickly.
Memphis made Clayton Jr. one of its final cuts as it trimmed down the roster for the new season, part of a hectic offseason that also included Ja Morant’s departure. Micah Peavy was the other player left off the Grizzlies’ opening night group, and Clayton Jr. had been viewed for some time as a likely waiver candidate despite a little optimism that he could develop into a useful piece down the line.
Now that he’s out, the 23-year-old guard appears to have a real market. According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, several teams have already surfaced as possible landing spots once he clears waivers. Siegel wrote:
“It is worth noting that the Heat and Kings have been two rumored landing spots for Walter Clayton Jr. in league circles over the last couple of weeks. The Stein Line noted Sacramento’s interest this morning. The Warriors were also interested in Clayton during the 2025 draft.”
That leaves the Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, and Golden State Warriors as the main teams to watch.
Clayton Jr. didn’t get much runway in Memphis, but what he showed in the preseason was enough to keep his name in circulation. In four preseason games, he put up 5.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per contest. That wasn’t enough to convince the Grizzlies to keep him, though it does reinforce why teams with a need for another ballhandler are paying attention.
The Warriors make for the most intriguing fit in theory. Their system can be friendly to guards, and Clayton Jr.’s passing feel and basketball IQ could fit what Steve Kerr likes to run.
The problem is that Golden State already has a full 15-man roster, along with its three two-way spots, so there doesn’t seem to be much room to make something happen right now. And while Siegel noted the Warriors had interest in him during the 2025 draft, there’s nothing concrete pointing to a move at this stage.
That pushes the conversation toward Miami and Sacramento. Both teams could use backup playmaking help, and the Kings’ need has been a talking point recently after Ben Simmons’ injury. Even so, Miami may offer the cleanest path to a real role.
The Heat are leaning on Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo to drive the offense, but the bench picture leaves room for another floor general. With 14 players already on standard contracts, Miami still has one open spot available, and that creates an obvious opening for Clayton Jr. to land.
He’s also shown more than enough as a facilitator to make that idea worth considering. Last season, after barely seeing the floor with the Jazz, Clayton Jr. put together a stronger stretch during a 24-game run with the Grizzlies that included six starts. He averaged 9.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 0.8 steals per game.
The shooting numbers weren’t pretty - 36.6% from the field and 30.7% from three - but the feel for the game was there. His poise and ability to control the pace stood out, and that kind of steady hand can matter for a team trying to sharpen its offense.
Miami could also use that roster flexibility to move a two-way player into a standard deal later in the season, which could affect Tre Donaldson or Keshad Johnson. But for now, Clayton Jr. looks like the cleaner fit if the Heat want to use that last spot on a guard who can help them right away.
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Mavericks Suddenly Have A Real Shot At A Guard Fans Know
Walter Clayton Jr. is suddenly back on the board after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies ahead of the roster deadline, and the guard is already drawing attention from multiple NBA teams. Among the clubs monitoring him are the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings, two teams with very different paths but a shared interest in adding a young guard who could provide backcourt depth without much fuss.
Dallas may have the edge on paper because it has a two-way roster spot available and a pre-existing relationship with Clayton, which could make that an appealing landing spot if he clears waivers. Still, the next step may come down to something simpler than team fit alone: where he can actually get minutes, and how that lines up with the long-term direction he wants for his career. [Read more 🡒]