Walter Clayton Jr.
Expectation: Translating Defensively To The NBA Level
By making a trade with the Wizards, the Jazz obtained Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr., the 18th overall pick. The 6-foot-2 guard is one of the best upperclassmen in the 2025 draft class. He is one of the draft’s premier shooters in the class, being able to knock down shots anywhere on the court. His fearless shot-making and experience were on full display during Summer League, where he had multiple impressive outings.
For a young Jazz team, having an older rookie in Clayton is excellent. The importance of his addition is accentuated by his experience winning an NCAA Championship and coming from a program that prides itself on success.
However, one concern for Clayton is his defense. To be specific, his size can be a detriment to him on that end. While he does have quick hands and is good at reading passing lanes, he’ll have difficulties guarding on the ball as bigger, stronger players will push him out of the way. Not only that, but he isn’t always the most attentive defending off the ball either.
If the 22-year-old can find ways to translate his positive defensive traits and mitigate his negative ones, he will have a long NBA career.
