The Utah Jazz’s trade for Jaren Jackson Jr. is looking even sharper now, and the latest buzz out of Memphis only strengthens that case. With the Grizzlies needing to trim their roster from 19 to 15, Walter Clayton Jr. is reportedly among the players under consideration to be waived, a development that says plenty about how the return in that deal has aged.
NBA insider Jake Fischer said on his latest live stream for Bleacher Report that Clayton is one of the names in the mix, along with D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Hawkins, and Kris Murray. That possibility matters because it adds another layer to what Utah sent out in the first place, and what Memphis seemed to value most.
The Grizzlies’ interest in the trade now appears tied more to the draft capital than the young players. Utah included a top-four protected Lakers pick next season and the Suns’ 2031 unprotected pick, and those kinds of assets carry real weight for a team looking to rebuild the right way. If Memphis is already willing to move on from Clayton, it suggests the front office may not have seen enough there to keep betting on his long-term upside.
That also fits the way the deal has played out from Utah’s side. Taylor Hendricks’ stock has gone up since the trade, while Clayton’s has gone the other direction. The Jazz moved him at the right time, before his value slid any further.
There’s some irony in how it all unfolded. Utah drafted Clayton as a precaution after Keyonte George’s sophomore slump raised concerns, but George has since taken a step forward and is now viewed as one of the team’s cornerstones. Clayton, meanwhile, is fighting to prove he belongs at the NBA level.
That’s a tough turn for a player who came into the league with a strong story behind him. He was a college hero, not widely seen as a major NBA prospect until his Cinderella run at Florida ended with an NCAA title. That run gave him enough buzz for Utah to trade up for him.
Even now, Clayton could still survive Memphis’ cuts, or the Grizzlies could move him in a trade instead. But the possibility of him being waived only makes Utah’s decision to land Jaren Jackson Jr. look smarter by the day.
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