Kings check on Walter Clayton Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. as Ben Simmons injury forces guard hunt

The Kings have emerged as a possible landing spot for Grizzlies guard Walter Clayton Jr. and have also contacted the Bucks about Kevin Porter Jr., Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported on Monday, October 19, as Sacramento looks for ball-handling help after Ben Simmons suffered a torn Achilles tendon on Sunday.

Both Memphis and Milwaukee must clear roster space before Monday’s 5 p.m. Eastern deadline. The Grizzlies have 17 players on standard contracts, two over the limit, while the Bucks have 16. A deal sending Porter out without a player coming back would get Milwaukee to the 15-man limit.

Clayton, the No. 18 pick in the 2025 draft, averaged 7.8 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 69 games between the Jazz and Grizzlies as a rookie, shooting 38.4 percent from the field. Memphis acquired him from Utah in February’s Jaren Jackson Jr. trade, and general manager Zach Kleiman talked him up at the time as part of the organization’s young core. Neither discussion has produced a reported agreement.