REPORT: Miami Heat Show Interest In Former First-Round Pick

The Miami Heat's roster seems pretty much locked and loaded as the regular season approaches in a couple of days. However, there are reports the team is showing interest in a former first-round pick.

NBA insider Jake Fischer claims the Heat rate Memphis Grizzlies guard Walter Clayton Jr. highly and could make a move for him.

Clayton, 23, was one of the best players in college basketball just a year ago and has already found himself dealt in a trade and back on the chopping block. Clayton won a national title with the Florida Gators and was a consensus first-team All-American in 2025. That earned him a spot in the first round of last summer's draft where he was selected by the Utah Jazz at No. 18. His splits in Utah weren't too strong in 45 games played and he was dealt to the Grizzlies as part of the blockbuster Jaren Jackson Jr. deal at the trade deadline. 

Now, he surprisingly could be a cap casualty before the start of the season. The Grizzlies already parted with D'Angelo Russell after acquiring him this offseason and Clayton could somehow be next. It would be shocking to see a first-round pick from last summer hit the trade market again. If that is the case, the Heat should jump at the opportunity to add him as they need a backup guard behind Davion Mitchell and there is plenty of room for growth despite his immediate growing pains at the NBA level.

The Heat's backcourt has been up-and-down over the past few seasons. If we go back a bit further, the Heat made the massive blockbuster move for Kyle Lowry in 2021 before he showed alarming signs of slowing down. Then, Miami pivoted to Terry Rozier in early 2024 before his career has been forever damaged due to his gambling scandal which kept him out of the entire 2025-26 season. He may never play in the league again. The Heat got lucky with Mitchell as a solid option when they acquired him at the 2025 trade deadline but it is still unknown if he can be the starting point guard of a true contending team.

Clayton isn't a game-changer by any means but with the recent Dru Smith injury, there is even more pressure on the Heat to have solid depth for the backcourt. Clayton can score along with being a strong facilitator and is still quite young. With Mitchell on the final year of his contract, it may be worth a flyer to add the Florida product to the rotation and see what he can bring to the table, especially if Memphis isn't valuing him highly.