Clayton (knee) won't play in Friday's Summer League game against Chicago, Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports.
Clayton is battling a knee issue and wasn't available to suit up during the Salt Lake City Summer League. The 23-year-old began the 2025-26 campaign in Utah before being acquired by the Grizzlies ahead of the trade deadline. In 24 regular-season appearances in Memphis, he averaged 9.7 points, 5.7 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 0.3 blocks and 0.8 steals over 25.0 minutes. Clayton is considered day-to-day, and his next opportunity to play will come Monday versus his former club. Although he's already projected to hold a spot in the rotation for the Grizzlies in 2026-27, he won't help his chances of earning more playing time if he misses more games throughout the remainder of Summer League.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Won't play in Salt Lake City
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Clayton won't play during Summer League in Salt Lake City due to a mild right knee sprain, Michael Wallace of the Grizzlies' official site reports.
Clayton will be re-evaluated when the team gets to Las Vegas on July 9, but he will skip Memphis' three exhibition games in Salt Lake City. Clayton had a strong close to his rookie season, putting in averages of 9.7 points, 5.7 assists and 1.4 triples per game after the All-Star break.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Out Sunday
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Clayton (hip) is out for Sunday's game against the Rockets.
Clayton will miss a second straight contest to close the regular season due to a left hip injury. His rookie campaign comes to a close with a solid stretch of games, as he averaged 13.2 points, 6.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 25.0 minutes per contest over his last five appearances, scoring in double figures in each of those games.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Questionable versus Jazz
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Clayton (hip) is listed as questionable for Friday's game in Utah.
Clayton got the start in Wednesday's 136-119 loss to Denver. However, he's in danger of missing this contest because of left hip soreness. With a lengthy injury report for the Grizzlies heading into Friday night, Jahmai Mashack and Adama Bal may be getting all the minutes they can handle if Clayton and Javon Small (thigh) are both ruled out.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Ruled out Friday
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Clayton (hip) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Raptors.
Clayton was a late addition to the injury report Friday and won't suit up due to left hip soreness. His next chance to play will come Sunday in Milwaukee. With the rookie first-rounder sidelined, Adama Bal, Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack are candidates to see increased playing time.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Added to injury report
Rotowire
Clayton (hip) is questionable for Friday's game against Toronto.
The rookie first-rounder was a late addition to the injury report due to left hip soreness. The bulk of the reps at point guard would fall into the hands of Javon Small, Rayan Rupert and Jahmai Mashack if Clayton cannot play Friday.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Entering starting five
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Clayton is starting Monday's game against the Bulls.
Clayton will join the starting lineup after missing three straight games due to a right ankle sprain. He starred as a playmaker in his last start March 1 against Indiana, finishing with 14 assists in 34 minutes.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Cleared to play Monday
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Clayton (ankle) is available for Monday's game against the Bulls.
Clayton will shed a questionable tag due to a right ankle sprain and suit up after being inactive for the previous three games. In his past five appearances, the rookie is averaging 8.6 points, 8.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 rebounds in 26.4 minutes per contest. With Ty Jerome (shoulder) ruled out, Clayton should see a solid amount of playing time in Monday's contest.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Won't play Friday
Rotowire
Clayton (ankle) is out for Friday's game in Detroit.
This will be the third straight game on the inactive list for Clayton, and for now, he should be considered questionable for Monday's game in Chicago. Cam Spencer should see quality minutes Friday night with Memphis' backcourt extremely banged up.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Starting Monday
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Clayton will start Monday's game against the Nets, Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com reports.
With the Grizzlies being shorthanded in the front end of this back-to-back set, Clayton will step into the starting five. As a starter this season (two games), the rookie first-rounder has averaged 8.0 points, 10.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 29.5 minutes per contest.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Back in bench role
Rotowire
Clayton will come off the bench Tuesday against the Timberwolves.
Clayton drew a spot start Sunday and fared well by dishing out 14 assists, but he'll return to the bench Tuesday due to Ty Jerome being cleared to play. Clayton has scored in double figures in just two of his last 14 appearances as a reserve.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Hands out season-high 14 dimes
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Clayton notched seven points (2-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, 14 assists, one block and four steals in 34 minutes during Sunday's 125-106 win over the Pacers.
Making his second career start, Clayton set a season high in both dimes and swipes. The Grizzlies are likely to continue shuffling their starting lineup around until Ja Morant (elbow) is cleared to return, and Clayton is beginning to flash his potential as a playmaker. Across his first seven outings for Memphis, the rookie first-rounder has averaged 8.4 points, 6.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 25.6 minutes per game.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Moving to starting role
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Clayton is in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Pacers, per Tony East of Forbes.com.
Clayton will slide into the starting five for Sunday's matchup, replacing fellow rookie Javon Small, who had started the Grizzlies' last two contests. This move comes as head coach Tuomas Iisalo continues to shuffle his backcourt, with Ty Jerome (thigh) officially ruled out and several other rotation pieces sidelined.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Nine points, six dimes in return
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Clayton (calf) provided nine points (4-11 FG, 1-6 3Pt), six assists and four rebounds across 25 minutes in Saturday's 136-120 loss to the Heat.
Back in action after missing the Grizzlies' previous three games due to a right calf contusion, Clayton stepped into the starting five in place of GG Jackson, who headed to the bench after a six-game run on the top unit. Clayton won't be guaranteed to stick in the starting five moving forward, and he could be headed to the bench as soon as Monday against the Kings, if one of Cedric Coward (knee) or Santi Aldama (knee) is able to return. Since being acquired from the Jazz at the trade deadline, Clayton has appeared in three games for Memphis and is averaging 9.3 points, 5.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 25.0 minutes per contest.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Moving to starting role
Rotowire
Clayton is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Heat.
Clayton is returning from a three-game absence following a right calf contusion, and he'll move to the starting lineup right away. He's averaging 9.5 points, 5.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 25.0 minutes per game in his two outings with Memphis since being traded from the Jazz before the deadline.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Available Saturday
Rotowire
Clayton (calf) is available for Saturday's game against Miami.
Clayton will shed his questionable tag and return to action following a three-game absence due to a right calf contusion. In two outings since being traded from Utah to Memphis, the rookie first-rounder has averaged 9.5 points, 5.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 25.0 minutes per game.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Could return Saturday
Rotowire
Clayton (calf) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Heat.
Clayton has missed the Grizzlies' last three games due to a right calf contusion, but the rookie first-rounder has a chance to return for Saturday's road contest. He has averaged 18.3 minutes per game off the bench this season, but even if he's available to play Saturday, he could operate in a reduced role due to the returns of Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Not playing Friday
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Clayton (calf) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Jazz.
The rookie first-rounder will miss a third consecutive game while nursing a right calf contusion, and his next chance to play is in the second leg of the Grizzlies' back-to-back set against the Heat on Saturday. The Grizzlies are dealing with multiple injuries, so Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack should see significant roles Friday due to the absences of Clayton, Ty Jerome (calf), Scotty Pippen (toe) and Cedric Coward (knee).
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Downgraded to out
Rotowire
Clayton (calf) won't play in Wednesday's game against the Nuggets.
Clayton will miss a second consecutive contest due to a bruised right calf. With Cedric Coward (knee) also sidelined, Cam Spencer and Scotty Pippen could see an uptick in playing time. Clayton's next chance to play will come after the All-Star break, when the Grizzlies face the Jazz on Feb. 20.
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Grizzlies' Walter Clayton: Available to play
Rotowire
Clayton is available for Friday's game versus Portland.
Clayton was involved in the blockbuster trade that sent Jaren Jackson to the Jazz on Tuesday, and the rookie point guard has an exciting opportunity ahead of him in Memphis. With Ja Morant (elbow) still sidelined, Clayton will have plenty of chances to impress the coaching staff.
