Grizzlies shopping Walter Clayton Jr.; Kings also ask about Kevin Porter Jr.

The Grizzlies are trying to trade Walter Clayton Jr. before Monday’s roster deadline, and the Kings have emerged as a possible landing spot.

That’s according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, who report that Sacramento is considering adding a guard after Ben Simmons suffered a torn Achilles tendon Sunday.

Clayton isn’t the only name the Kings are checking on. Sacramento has also contacted the Bucks about Kevin Porter Jr., Fischer reported.

Both Memphis and Milwaukee need to clear roster space before the 5 p.m. Eastern deadline. The Grizzlies have 17 players on standard contracts, two above the limit, while the Bucks have 16.

For the Kings, Simmons’ injury created an immediate need for more ball-handling. For the Grizzlies, moving Clayton would mean parting with a young guard they publicly praised when they acquired him just eight months ago.

Clayton, 23, arrived from the Jazz in February’s Jaren Jackson Jr. trade. Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman singled him out at the time as someone the organization could envision in its young core.

Fischer first reported last week that Memphis was exploring deals involving Clayton. The roster deadline has now added urgency to those discussions.

The No. 18 overall pick in the 2025 draft, Clayton averaged 7.8 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 69 games between the Jazz and Grizzlies as a rookie. He shot 38.4 percent from the field and 30.7 percent from three.

That followed a decorated final season at Florida, where he helped lead the Gators to a national championship and earned NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.

Porter offers Sacramento another option. A trade that sends him out without bringing a player back would get the Bucks to the 15-man limit.

Neither discussion has produced a reported agreement. But with the Kings suddenly needing another guard and two teams needing roster space, there’s reason for all three front offices to keep talking.