Still on a two-way contract, Javon Small has looked very comfortable as a scorer in Las Vegas Summer League and has made a strong case to get a standard deal soon. However, arguably the biggest takeaway from Small's offensive breakout is that it casts further doubt on Walter Clayton Jr.'s Memphis future.
Walter Clayton Jr. was acquired as part of the blockbuster Jaren Jackson Jr. trade in February and struggled significantly on offense after arriving in Memphis. Despite showing some legitimate playmaking flashes, Clayton Jr. simply struggled to hit shots. The hope was for Clayton Jr. to have a strong showing in Summer League, but a knee injury has kept him out of action this entire summer.
The pressure is growing significantly for Walter Clayton Jr.
Walter Clayton Jr. was also a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, taken just seven spots after the Grizzlies' breakout wing Cedric Coward. In Clayton Jr.'s defense, it simply isn't easy to deal with a midseason trade, especially as a rookie. With the Grizzlies, Clayton Jr. averaged 9.7 points and 5.7 assists in 24 games but shot just 36.6% from the field and 30.7% from behind the arc.
Walter Clayton Jr.'s performances after the trade just weren't convincing offensively, but it would still be surprising if he's not on the roster this season. However, the timing of Clayton Jr.'s recent injury is simply unfortunate, and he lost out on some golden opportunities to prove himself in the process.
Now, with Javon Small looking very comfortable on offense in Vegas Summer League, the pressure for Walter Clayton Jr. is arguably at an all-time high. Javon Small also outperformed Walter Clayton Jr. in the regular season and is now building on his strong rookie year.
While Walter Clayton Jr.'s roster spot may be safe heading into this season, he's in a situation where he will have to show that his shooting struggles as a rookie aren't who he is. Clayton Jr. was a very good shooter for the national champion Gators but simply struggled to adjust early in his NBA career. With Small's recent breakout, Clayton Jr. is simply going to have to be a much better shotmaker.
The Grizzlies may be in the early stages of their rebuild, but the Cedric Coward, Zach Edey, and Cam Boozer core looks very promising. However, they still have to figure out who will stick at the point guard position long-term, now that Ja Morant ended up being traded this summer. We are now looking at a make or break season for Walter Clayton Jr., especially if he wants to remain in Memphis.
While the breakout of Javon Small is great news for the Grizzlies, it could spell significant trouble for Walter Clayton Jr. being a long-term piece in Memphis.
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