Moves are coming in Memphis. The Grizzlies must waive four players. They're currently carrying 21, including two-way players. That's the offseason maximum. However, when it's time to finalize their opening-night roster, they can only have 15 players on standard NBA contracts.
On a recent edition of his Bleacher Report live stream, Jake Fischer stated that Memphis will most likely waive four of the following five players: Walter Clayton Jr., D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Hawkins, Kris Murray, and Micah Peavy.
The possibility of the Celtics signing Clayton, thanks to the Grizzlies' roster crunch, is intriguing. It's a scenario that warrants exploring.
Why Walter Clayton Jr. isn't the right match for the Celtics
If Memphis moves on from the former Florida Gator, he'll want to find an opportunity to showcase his talent. He probably won't find that in Boston.
If Payton Pritchard is coming off the bench, and there's a compelling case for keeping him in a sixth-man role, then Clayton would be buried on the depth chart.
If Pritchard's starting, then signing the former national champion and NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player becomes more practical. The Celtics don't want to lean too heavily on Mike Conley. Instead, they'll have a plan to optimize an individual entering his 20th NBA season.
Still, a timeshare for minutes at backup point guard probably isn't what Clayton has in mind if his rookie contract goes up in smoke before he enters his second year in the Association. Conley might not be thrilled about it either in this scenario. With that in mind, Boston might not pursue this tempting avenue.
Why Walter Clayton Jr. would sign with the Celtics
His basketball journey has been a whirlwind. Two years after transferring from Iona, he led the Gators to the national championship. From there, he became the 18th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, getting selected just outside of the lottery.
It is hard to believe that not only would he get traded during his rookie season, going from the Utah Jazz to the Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll, but that there's a distinct possibility he is now on the verge of being waived.
When Clayton arrived in Memphis, he averaged 9.7 points, 5.7 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and nearly 1.0 steals per game. He did so in 24 appearances, including six starts. He logged 25.0 minutes per contest for the Grizzlies.
The six-foot-four guard demonstrated that he isn't out of place at basketball's highest level. Finding stability, after constantly being on the move, would be extremely beneficial. That can come with a greater opportunity than Boston can offer him. However, the Celtics have an elite player development program. It's a great place for him to work to improve as a shooter and grow his overall game. The minutes Clayton wants may not be available this year, but his patience could pay off with a more significant role down the road.
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