NBA mock drafts view Florida Gators star PG Walter Clayton Jr. favorably heading into Wednesday night
The Florida Gators could see multiple players get drafted in the NBA Draft with the highest profile of them being point guard Walter Clayton Jr. The All-American led the Gators to the program's third national championship and will be a pivotal player at the next level. When you look at where he could end up […]
The Florida Gators could see multiple players get drafted in the NBA Draft with the highest profile of them being point guard Walter Clayton Jr. The All-American led the Gators to the program's third national championship and will be a pivotal player at the next level.
When you look at where he could end up going in the NBA Draft, going just outside the lottery feels likely for him, especially when you consider his age and lack of elite size and length.
When taking a look at different mock drafts across the league, there isn't a consensus spot for Clayton to go. ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo has him going 20th to the Miami Heat.
Clayton has showcased his dynamic shotmaking in workouts and worked his way up boards in a first round that has shaped up somewhat light on point guard options. He has fans in front offices selecting higher than this, and he appears to be positioned well to potentially land inside the top 20. His explosiveness and ability to create his own shot are strong calling cards that should give him a pathway to being a useful bench scorer, at worst.
Miami is perennially among the hardest teams for rival organizations, as well as player agents, to get a read on, with a tight-lipped approach to how it conducts its predraft process. Considering the Heat's need for a proper point guard and the way Clayton seems to fit their mold, this fit makes sense on paper.-Woo
USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt, Lorenzo Reyes, and James H. Williams have Clayton going a little further down the board at 27th overall to the Brooklyn Nets.
Named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, Clayton had 34 points in the national semifinals against Auburn and 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the championship victory against Houston. He also scored 30 points in a regional final against Texas Tech and was 21-for-42 from the field in the Gators’ final three games. Has range on 3-point shots and can shoot off the dribble or pass but needs to improve as a playmaker and defender.
In today's NBA, hitting on late first round picks is more important than ever. The second apron has essentially instituted a "hard cap" for NBA teams. Having a high-floor player like Clayton who can be an impactful player off the bench at a value. In fact, there is a chance he goes at the back end of the lottery for that reason.
Wednesday night is going to be interesting.
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