Jazz draft-night gamble already paying off—and it's not Ace Bailey

When the topic of Utah Jazz rookies came to mind coming into this season, everyone understandably thought of Ace Bailey, and for good reason. Even if he hasn't started out great, Bailey is still the most exciting prospect Utah's had in years. However, the one Jazz rookie who has made himself stand out two games into this young season has been Walter Clayton Jr.

The Jazz traded up to get Clayton in the 2025 NBA Draft, a rarity that further proves how high they were on him beforehand. Clayton was an NCAA champion who rose through the ranks in the last year to become a first-round pick.

Once the Jazz followed up drafting him by dumping Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson soon after, it was clear Clayton would be a rotation fixture. His numbers may not jump out at you at first, but the eye test would show how impactful he has been when he's on the floor.

Averaging 10 points, 5.5 rebounds, and four assists to go with 53.3% shooting from the field and 33.3% from three doesn't exactly jump off the page. However, the three things that stand out about Clayton are his poise, confidence, and basketball IQ.

That's rare to find so early on in a player's career, and bodes well for Clayton's long-term prospects. More importantly, to see a first-round pick thrive so easily as Clayton has makes him a big steal for the Jazz. In all fairness, Isaiah Collier did something similar last year, but it actually took him a while to make his impact felt on the Jazz.

The difference is that Clayton has taken no time at all to let the Jazz know they've got something legit with him. It actually isn't too surprising, given that he's 23 years old, which is old for a rookie. If anything, it would be more concerning if his transition to the NBA wasn't smooth.

So what is Clayton's ceiling?

Because of his age as a rookie, it might be wishful thinking to believe Clayton will be a star in the making for Utah. However, the Jazz want to form their next perennial playoff contender, that requires having the right pieces, ie, a veteran leader who can keep the team poised in big moments.

That's what Clayton looks like. His peak may be an NBA starter who can lead the team through the rough times. It's already been confirmed that the Jazz see him as a tone-setter in the locker room. That's a vital ingredient of a title contender.

Utah already has young players who project to be important going forward, like Walker Kessler, Kyle Filipowski, and Brice Sensabaugh. Clayton has a different skillset from them, but he's in the same class as a glue guy that the team can't afford to lose.

Bailey may wind up being the Jazz's next superstar, but Clayton may go down as one of the best steals in franchise history.