Walt Lake City: What they're saying about Walter Clayton landing at Utah
It was a thrilling night Wednesday for Florida Gators All-American point guard Walter Clayton Jr., who was picked by Washington at No. 18 overall in the first round of the NBA Draft, then traded to Utah. What did people think about the UF great landing in Salt Lake City? Here’s a sampling ….
Many seem to think Utah picking Walter Clayton Jr. was a smart move
—Yahoo! Sports: Grade: A+ Along with Ace Bailey, the addition of Clayton makes the Jazz look like the funnest League Pass team next season. Clayton is clutch and looked like Steph Curry at times. He’s also a culture creator. I’m very intrigued with what the Ainges are doing in Utah’s front office. Clayton is a fearless shooter with the versatility to take any shot at any moment, as we saw with him fueling the Gators to a national championship.
—CBS Sports: As for Utah’s second selection — Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. — that pick was a home run. Clayton was the best guard in college basketball this past season. He will bring scoring and his clutch gene to Utah. The Jazz were one of the winners of the first round.
—Sarah Todd, Deseret News: Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge said that he’d been watching Clayton for a long time and that the Jazz were intentional about targeting him on Wednesday night.Ainge’s former boss, Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, joked to local reporters that he was also not surprised by the selection. “I could’ve told you two years ago he was gonna trade up to get Clayton,” Stevens said.
—Kevin Reynolds, Salt Lake Tribune: The Utah Jazz capitalized when one of the most talented prospects in the draft fell to the fifth pick earlier in the night. But to add to their first-round haul, the Jazz made their own luck, too. Utah traded up from No. 21 to No. 18 to get Walter Clayton Jr. from Florida. He will play alongside former Rutgers guard Ace Bailey next season.
His skills ‘will translate” to the NBA
—Calvin Barrett, SLC Dunk: At times, Clayton’s motivations line up eerily with those of Doctor Otto Octavius. When he can wield the power of the sun in the palm of his hands, almost nothing will stand in his way. He torched the NCAA Tournament field, almost single-handedly dragging his squad through challenging matchups with UConn, Texas Tech, and Houston. He hit nearly 40% of his three-pointers on a not easily digestible diet of shots. That will translate.
—Bleacher Report: Clayton is also one of the draft’s most polished shotmakers, with deep range, pull-up craft and a strong track record in high-pressure moments. Still, Clayton lacks standout physical tools or athleticism, which affects his finishing and limits his ability to create mismatches. There’s also his size and likely low assist rate, which complicate his projection as a full-time lead guard. Of course, Clayton is a highly touted prospect for a reason. His scoring instincts, shooting versatility and clutch shotmaking give him a real chance to stick, especially if he embraces the “microwave scorer” identity in a rotation role.
—Fansided: The Jazz now have a perfect young guard to join their core, and the Mavericks were caught sleeping as [Clayton] was drafted much higher than most mock drafts predicted. Clayton Jr. was someone who Mavericks fans have wanted them to draft for weeks, and although it would have taken a haul to trade into the top 20, it could have been worth it when considering the impact he could have made in Dallas in year one. Clayton’s potential fit in Dallas would have been unique, as him being 22 years old wouldn’t have scared the Mavs away like it could have with other young teams that were eyeing younger players. It would have only made them more intrigued.
