When the Memphis Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, promising young point guard Walter Clayton Jr. was a key piece of the returning package. Roughly eight months later, Clayton is reportedly a player Memphis is willing to trade. The Denver Nuggets should be giddy.
The Nuggets are in need of stability at the point guard position behind starter Jamal Murray and Clayton could not only offer short-term value, but long-term contributions.
Clayton, 23, was the No. 18 overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. He struggled to score with efficiency as a rookie, but excelled at creating for his teammates. He also hasn't played with a playmaker the caliber of Nikola Jokic before.
The door appears to be open for a move to be made, as the Grizzlies are reportedly exploring Clayton's trade market ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line:
"I'm told, however, that the Grizzlies have been exploring potential trade markets for GG Jackson II and Walter Clayton Jr. Which is quite a turn from Memphis' original stance on Clayton. Back in February, when the Grizzlies were negotiating their return in the blockbuster Jaren Jackson Jr. trade with Utah, sources say Memphis valued Clayton quite highly."
Clayton is by no means a perfect player at this stage of his career, but he has the talent and skill set to be an intriguing fit in Denver's system and a developable talent they can work with.
Grizzlies are exploring Walter Clayton Jr.'s trade market
Clayton finished his rookie season in 2025-26 with averages of 7.8 points, 4.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 1.1 three-point field goals made in 20.4 minutes per game. Those numbers translate to 13.7 points, 7.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.9 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
Clayton shot poorly, converting looks at a clip of .384/.307/.901, but he was an excellent shooter in college and could benefit from playing in a system that creates more efficient looks for him.
As a rookie, Clayton ranked in the 39th percentile in three-point shot quality and the 28th percentile in overall shot quality, per Basketball Index. David Adelman's system and Jokic's generational playmaking would likely bring those numbers up and give him a chance to prove what type of player he truly is.
Considering the 23-year-old shot 38.6 percent from beyond the arc between four collegiate seasons, it's fair to believe he can be a better shooter than he's thus far shown.
Walter Clayton Jr. has untapped potential, playmaking skills
In terms of what he can immediately offer, Clayton is a high-level playmaker who takes care of the ball. He ranked in the 91st percentile in assists per 75 possessions as a rookie, and finished in the 70th percentile in rim shot creation.
For a Nuggets team that needs playmakers beyond Jokic and Murray, as well as more sources of dribble penetration, Clayton could thus be an excellent fit.
It's also worth noting that Clayton ranked in the 87th percentile in on-ball gravity in 2025-26 despite being a first-year player. Perhaps his surroundings had something to do with it, but it's clear that defenses respect his prowess with the ball in his hands despite his inefficiency and inexperience.
Cost will decide how far into the Clayton sweepstakes the Nuggets can realistically go, but they should seriously consider making a run at this promising young player at a position of need.
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