Grizzlies waive former Florida star Walter Clayton Jr. before NBA roster deadline
Clayton was a consensus All-American and Final Four Most Outstanding Player, leading the Gators to the 2025-26 NCAA men's basketball national championship.
Walter Clayton Jr., a former standout at Florida, was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies just before Monday's NBA roster deadline. The 6-foot-4 guard, who led the Gators to the 2025-26 NCAA championship as a senior, averaged 18.3 points and 5.7 assists per game during his final season in Gainesville. Clayton earned consensus All-American honors and was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player in his last six NCAA tournament appearances, averaging 22.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in those games.
Ranked the 20th best prospect on Kevin O’Connor’s 2025 big board, the fearless shooter struggled defensively, partially explaining his bumpy start in the NBA. Drafted 18th overall by the Washington Wizards, Clayton was soon traded to the Utah Jazz and later to the Grizzlies in a multi-team deal. While he had a solid debut with the Jazz, scoring 6.8 points and 3.2 assists per game with a 31% 3-point shooting, the Memphis roster crunch forced him to be waived.
Both the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors reportedly showed interest in Clayton during the 2025 draft, but none could secure a deal before the 5 p.m. ET deadline.
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