Walter Clayton Jr.’s release by Memphis only sharpens the verdict on one of Utah’s biggest moves in years: the Jazz absolutely cashed in on the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade.
Clayton’s departure isn’t some massive surprise. His name had already been floated as a possible casualty, and once the waiver became official, it added another layer to the sense that Utah came out of the deal far ahead. For a player who was only in the league for one season, the path has turned fast, and he’s now looking for a third NBA home.
What makes it sting a little more for Memphis is that Clayton wasn’t exactly a mystery project. The warning signs were there in preseason, where he looked rough. That’s especially notable because the same buzz that suggested he might lose his spot also said the Grizzlies were high on him when they made the trade.
Even with Clayton gone, Memphis still has Taylor Hendricks, who’s looked good for them, plus three first-round picks. That’s a solid haul on paper, but for a rare big man like Trip, it still feels light.
The Grizzlies wanted a reset, and to their credit, they’re moving in the right direction. Still, that doesn’t change the feeling that Utah landed a steal - maybe 30 cents on the dollar for what could be its biggest trade addition since...
Adrian Dantley?
The Jazz haven’t gotten the full payoff yet, but the deal already looks better by the day. That’s the weird part about trades: sometimes the real win shows up before the production does.
And this isn’t meant as a hit on Clayton. When Utah traded up for him last June, plenty of people thought they had found a bargain.
It just didn’t stick in Memphis. He’s 23, which gives him some runway, even if his ceiling isn’t the kind teams usually dream on when a former first-round pick gets waived this early.
That doesn’t mean the story is finished. Plenty of players need the right coach and the right roster to find their footing. Clayton didn’t look terrible in Utah, and the Jazz moved him as part of the Jackson deal as much as anything else because they knew they couldn’t keep all of their young talent forever.
For now, Utah can’t bring him back because of NBA restrictions. But that won’t stop Jazz fans from rooting for him to catch on somewhere else - just not with a rival.
In Other News...
Jazz Needed Frontcourt Help And Will Hardy Just Explained This Move
When the Jazz were looking to shore up their frontcourt, Tony Bradley became an easy fit on paper. Utah claimed the center off waivers after the Knicks let him go, and the move gives Will Hardy another big body to work with while the team waits on Jusuf Nurkic to get healthy. It is the kind of roster tweak that can matter more than it looks, especially for a club trying to patch together minutes inside.
Hardy made it clear why Bradley appealed to Utah in the first place, pointing to his size and basketball IQ as the traits that made the claim worthwhile. Bradley arrives on a non-guaranteed contract, so this is a low-risk addition with a very specific purpose: give the Jazz some frontcourt depth in the short term and hold down the position until Nurkic is back in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Jazz May Be Better Prepared For Life After Walker Kessler Than Expected
The Jazz entered this season with a major interior reset after trading Walker Kessler to the Lakers, and the early signs suggest they may be farther along in replacing his defensive value than many expected. Utah has leaned on additions such as Jaxson Hayes and Mo Bamba to help shore up the paint, and the preseason numbers hinted the new look front line could hold up better than anticipated, at least when it comes to steering opponents away from the rim.
The tougher question is what happens when the ball comes off the glass. Kesslers rebounding was a huge part of what made him so valuable, and that burden is not as easily replaced, especially with Jusuf Nurkic sidelined by a toe injury. So the Jazz are looking at a center-by-committee approach, one that may work fine in stretches but will be tested once the games start carrying real stakes. [Read more 🡒]