The Utah Jazz traded former Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
Clayton, the 18th overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, spent 45 games with the Jazz before being dealt. He is averaging 6.8 points, 3.2 assists and two rebounds while shooting 30.8% from 3-point range as a rookie.
While Clayton is very much a centerpiece of this deal, the Grizzlies are also getting three future first-round picks, Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks and Georges Niang. Whether or not this increases Clayton’s playing time remains to be seen. Memphis is selling at the trade deadline and is expected to try and move All-Star guard Ja Morant as well.
The other guards in front of him include starting shooting guard Cedric Coward, starting point guard Ty Jerome and Cam Spencer off the bench. Veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is also in the mix, and Scotty Pippen Jr. should also compete with Clayton for playing time once he returns from injury.
The deal is pending player physicals, but it is all but locked into place. Clayton is listed as questionable to make his debut against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, but he’s considered day-to-day, rather than being out for the long term.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Utah Jazz trade Walter Clayton Jr. to Memphis Grizzlies
Reporting by David Rosenberg, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
