“A lot of people questioned his ability to play point guard at the SEC level, and he, in my humble opinion, is playing like the best guard in America right now,” said Todd Golden recently about Walter Clayton Jr. As the Florida Gators progress through the ongoing NCAA championship, very few team players are getting as much attention as the 22-year-old point guard/shooting guard. He is leaving a lasting impression through his ability to fire off handoffs, pull up over ball screens, rise off-balanced at the end of the clock, etc. The Gators wouldn’t be occupying a spot in the Final Four if it hadn’t been for the two late 3-pointers he made against Texas Tech in the previous game.
As ‘Last Word on Sports’ reporter Alfred Ezman described, “Guard play is crucial to winning games in the tournament, so having a superstar like Clayton is key to Florida’s title chances.” Having played 4 seasons worth of college basketball, and gotten the Gators to the Final Four for the first time since 2014, there is no better time than now for Clayton to once again declare for the NBA Draft. However, if he does, which teams would be inclined to take him? Without any further ado, let’s find out.
Which NBA teams can acquire Walter Clayton Jr. during the 2025 Draft?
It is important to remember that Walter Clayton Jr. had declared for the NBA draft after Florida’s 2023-24 season. However, he eventually withdrew from the draft and returned to Florida for his senior season. It turned out to be a smart decision, as Clayton ended up having his best collegiate season that same year. While he averaged 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists during the 2023-24 season, he averaged 18.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in the recent season. As a result, the player now has a stronger foundation through which he can appeal for a spot in the pros. Fortunately, some teams have already started popping up as the player’s potential new home.
Philadelphia 76ers
According to a recent mock draft put out by Bleacher Report, the Philadelphia 76ers will most likely double-dip on guards. Currently having the sixth-worst record in the NBA, thanks to a 23-52 win record, the 76ers will have the sixth-best lottery odds. For their top pick (No. 6), the Sixers can reportedly go with Texas Longhorns standout Tre Johnson. For their 2nd round, 36th selection, however, Walter Clayton Jr stands out as their next pick. Since Clayton is projected by ‘The Athletic’s Lindsay Schnell as a “mid-to-late second-round pick”, he lies right in the crosshairs of the 76ers.
One issue the Philadelphia 76ers face is with consistency. If the team currently holds a poor win record, it can be attributed to the number of times Joel Embiid and Paul George were not there to lead their players. Last year, Clayton started all 36 games for the Gators. He produced 18 points per game on 37 percent shooting from three. He also dished out four assists per game while coming down with four rebounds. He is a team player who can deliver in shooting and assists. Plus, it helps that observers often compare the 22-year-old to Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, someone whom Nick Nurse was very fond of during his time as the head coach of the Toronto Raptors.
Orlando Magic
CBS Sports describes this as “a stretch”. However, journalist Adam Finkelstein believes that Orlando’s roster could really use a backup point guard who can space the floor around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Clayton is a memorable shot-maker, having averaged 6.0-13.4 (44.6%) field goals, 3.0-7.8 (38.5%) 3-pointers, and 3.1-3.6 (86.5%) free throws during the 2024-25 college season. Magic’s current backup point guard averaged 9.3 points during the ongoing NBA season by shooting 3.3-7.7 (42.7%) field goals, 0.8-2.5 (32.0%) 3-pointers, and 2.0-2.6 (75.8%). Therefore, Walter Clayton Jr. could be a welcome change to experiment with by rotating point guards.
NCAA, College League, USA Basketball: Florida at Arkansas Jan 11, 2025 Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden talks to guard Walter Clayton Jr. 1 during the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Florida won 71-63. Fayetteville Bud Walton Arena Arkansas USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xNelsonxChenaultx 20250111_gma_sc6_0036
Utah Jazz
Walter Clayton Jr. has been considered under the radar of scouts thanks to his ability to drive and make plays. The current Utah Jazz roster is a team full of size. The 7-foot Walker Kessler and Lauri Markkanen man the inside. This means the team can spare a few inches at the guard position for someone with speed. The 6’3” Collin Sexton has already proven what speed can do at the point guard position, having averaged 18.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in the ongoing NBA season. Therefore, the addition of Clayton in the backup spot provided the team with some depth on the non-size front.
Miami Heat
Walter Clayton Jr. possesses the ability to defend and rebound. He averaged at least 3.3 defensive rebounds in the recent college season. The Miami Heat currently holds the 11th-best defensive rebounding this season. Furthermore, with Jimmy Butler now gone, the Heat could utilize another shooter to fill the point guard/shooting guard positions.
Golden State Warriors
Speaking of Jimmy Butler, what better team to take on a talented shooter than Stephen Curry’s home? Clayton’s 6.0-13.4 (44.6%) field goals and 3.0-7.8 (38.5%) 3-pointers highlight some room for improvement. However, his consistency with shooting more could work well with the Bay Area squad. Clayton Jr. would be less hampered by his 6-foot-3 size. Plus, since the Warriors like to switch on defense, and with Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green both ready to carry the load, he could learn a lot off the bench. Wherever the player chooses to go next, he will excel. After all, when even rival coaches compare you with future Hall of Famers, you know that you are worth something.
Despite being “thankful”, Walter Clayton Jr. dismissed his Kevin Willard comparison to Stephen Curry
Not everyone gets the chance to make a meaningful impact in college basketball. Walter Clayton Jr. became the first first-team All-American in Florida basketball history with a standout 2024-25 season. The previous year, he led Florida to the Sweet 16 stage for the first time since 2017. Now, he continues to astonish fans with his plays and shots from far away from the rim. Given all this, and the fact that Clayton delivered with eight points in the final 2 minutes of the Texas Tech game, it was inevitable that he would draw a comparison with another 3-pointer great. Probably the greatest. “I mean, one of them is sitting right there holding a trophy,” said Willard. “He (Clayton) reminds me of Steph [Curry] a little bit of how good he is off the dribble.”
When Clayton heard of this, he responded with, “I don’t know if I would compare myself to Steph. That’s one of the greatest ever, if not the greatest point guard, changed the game. Thankful to kind of be getting those comparisons, be compared to such a great player.”
Both players certainly have similar builds. Clayton Jr. is 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds. Curry is at 6-2 and 185. They both shoot well on the move, which is a skill Curry once said is tough to master. Therefore, what else can one say?
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