As the Grizzlies look to finalize their roster, an NBA insider revealed four players who were likely to be waived.
Oct 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard D'Angelo Russell (5) looks on during the game between the Mavericks and the Thunder at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Following their underwhelming performance in the 2025-26 season, the Memphis Grizzlies were set to enter a rebuild. After Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s departure at the February trade deadline, it was only a matter of time before things took another turn. Now, with Ja Morant also beginning his next chapter in Portland, Memphis is in a position to begin anew.
For the most part, the Grizzlies are an interesting team entering the 2026-27 season. Other than the arrival of Isaiah Stewart, Memphis added Cam Boozer with the third overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to its talented young core. Although these moves are impressive, some concerns arise.
After acquiring new players following the trade with the Pelicans, the Grizzlies now have 19 active players on their roster. Waiving Taj Gibson hours after acquiring him may have been the first domino, but according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Memphis must waive four more players to finalize its 15-man roster. On that note, Fischer shared:
“They have to cut four of Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy, D’Angelo Russell, Walter Clayton Jr., or Kris Murray. I believe, at this point in time, Jordan Hawkins has a chance to stick around. If the Grizzlies do cut Jordan Hawkins, I believe there are several teams that would be willing to take a chance on the former lottery pick. But I don’t think D’Angelo Russell is long for the Grizzlies’ world.”
Fischer emphasized that former first-round pick Olivier Maxence Prosper, whom the Grizzlies signed after the Dallas Mavericks waived him, is likely to remain on the roster. However, he concluded by reiterating that Memphis is likely to waive Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy, D’Angelo Russell, Kris Murray, and/or Walter Clayton Jr.
Could The Grizzlies Have Use For Some Of These Players?
As professionals in the NBA, it is hard to imagine how such talented players wouldn’t deserve a roster spot. However, given the cutthroat nature of professional sports, such matters evidently boil down to finer details.
In the Grizzlies’ case, the aforementioned players are primarily backcourt players, with only Kris Murray serving as a reliable wing with defensive upside. While Murray would typically be positioned as an asset in today’s game, Memphis already has reliable forwards in Jerami Grant, Cam Boozer, and G.G. Jackson.
While Murray’s defensive upside may still leave the door open for him to earn a roster spot, the same cannot be said for the remaining players.
At this stage in his career, D’Angelo Russell has effectively become a journeyman. Having played for five teams in the last two years, one could argue that Russell’s reliability as a floor general has been brought into question. With rumors suggesting that Memphis was negotiating a buyout with the veteran guard, there is every reason to believe he could be waived this summer.
Micah Peavy and Walter Clayton Jr. may also be viable options. Although both guards are coming off their rookie campaigns and have looked promising, the Grizzlies’ guard rotation is quite formidable.
Realistically, Clayton Jr. may still have a chance, especially after averaging 9.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game during his brief stint with the Grizzlies last season. Unfortunately, the same doesn’t apply to Peavy, who posted 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game.
While all the players mentioned earlier are at risk of being waived, this risk may not be as significant for Jordan Hawkins. As Fischer noted, several teams are willing to take a flyer on the 24-year-old shooting guard. Hence, even though he averaged only 5.1 points and 1.7 rebounds per game while shooting 36.6% from the field, he appears more likely to land on his feet.
When examining the Grizzlies’ roster, the logical move would be to waive Russell, Peavy, Hawkins, and Murray. Given what Clayton Jr. brings to the table offensively and as a backup playmaker, Memphis could benefit from developing him as an asset off the bench.