MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Grizzlies let go of a first-round pick from just a year ago on Monday, waiving guard Walter Clayton Jr. along with wing Micah Peavy as they trimmed down to their opening night roster.
The cuts brought Memphis to the league limit of 15 players on standard deals before the regular-season roster deadline. The club opens its season at home Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz.
Clayton, 23, went 18th overall to Utah in the 2025 draft after leading Florida to the national title that spring and being named the most outstanding player of the Final Four. Memphis landed him on Feb. 3 in the trade that shipped Jaren Jackson Jr., a past Defensive Player of the Year winner, to the Jazz.
Across 69 games as a rookie split between the two teams, he averaged 7.8 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds in a little over 20 minutes a night, with six starts. His numbers climbed after the trade, to 9.7 points and 5.7 assists over 24 games in a Memphis uniform, but he never settled into a steady role.
The Grizzlies reportedly shopped him before deciding on the release, and Sacramento was mentioned as a possible trade partner, though nothing came together.
Peavy, 25, was a second-round pick at No. 40 in the same draft after finishing his college career at Georgetown. He played 61 games for New Orleans as a rookie, putting up 4.3 points per game with close to two rebounds, and came to Memphis in a Sept. 8 trade. An ankle injury cut into his chances to win a spot during camp.
Both players are now free to sign elsewhere once they clear waivers.
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