Walter Clayton Jr., the guy who led Florida to a national championship and looked like a future NBA star, just hit a massive speed bump in his pro career. The Memphis Grizzlies officially waived the 6-foot-4 guard on Monday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. This move, which also saw forward Micah Peavy waived, comes as a shock considering Clayton’s college dominance and his rookie-scale contract.
From NCAA Champ to The Waiver Wire: A Swift Descent
Talk about a whirlwind. It wasn’t that long ago Clayton was tearing it up in Gainesville, putting up 18.3 points and 5.7 assists per game in his final season. He was absolutely lights out from beyond the arc, hitting 39% on 303 attempts. When the Gators went on their championship run, Clayton cranked it up even more, averaging 22.3 points, 3.3 boards, and 3.3 dimes in six NCAA tournament games, earning him consensus All-American honors and the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award. Yahoo Sports’ NBA Draft analyst Kevin O’Connor even pegged him as the 20th best prospect in 2025, calling him a “fearless shooter.” But even then, there were whispers about his defensive game holding him back.
That hint of a bumpy road got real fast. Clayton was picked 18th overall by the Washington Wizards, only to be traded on draft night to the Utah Jazz for a package that included Will Riley, Jamir Watkins, plus 2031 and 2032 second-round picks, and a 2032 second-round pick swap. He played 45 games for the Jazz, clocking 6.8 points and 3.2 assists, but his 3-point shooting dipped to 31%. Then, bam! Another trade. He was shipped off to the Grizzlies with three other players and three first-round picks in exchange for Jaren Jackson Jr. and three additional players. In Memphis, he upped his scoring to 9.7 points per game and dished out 5.7 assists, but that 3-point percentage stayed at 31%.
Roster Crunch and a $4.2 Million Deal Blow Up
The Grizzlies, facing a serious roster crunch, needed to get down to 15 players before Monday’s deadline. It turns out they tried to offload Clayton, with the Sacramento Kings reportedly showing some interest. But no deal materialized before the 5 p.m. ET deadline, likely because of the $4.2 million Clayton was owed this season on his rookie contract. When you’re a team trying to make tough decisions, that kind of number can be a killer. Turns out the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat had also shown interest back in the 2025 draft, according to NBA reporter Jake Fischer.
So, what’s next for Walter Clayton Jr.? He’s got that national title on his resume and talent to spare, but now he’s a free agent looking for a team after bouncing between three clubs in his first pro season. Will some team take a shot on that fearless shooting, or will those defensive shortcomings and that contract situation keep him sidelined? It’s a huge moment for a player who just last year was on top of the college basketball world.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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