The curtain closed on the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft Wednesday night, and the Utah Jazz wasted no time shaking things up. With the fifth overall pick, they snagged Ace Bailey, a flashy forward with plenty of upside. Later in the round, at number 18, they added promising guard Walker Clayton to their roster.
Now deep into their rebuild — nearing year four — the Jazz are desperate for dynamic, star-caliber talent to breathe new life into the franchise.
So the burning question on every fan’s mind: Have Bailey and Clayton got what it takes to become the next cornerstone players in Salt Lake City?
Let’s dive into what the nation’s top experts are saying about these fresh faces and what they might mean for Utah’s future.
Ace Bailey
Player Comparisons: Kevin Durant, Michael Porter
Analysis: Bailey is an elite shooter from anywhere on the court and used his size to get his shot off whenever he wanted in college. He’s great as a spot-up shooter and will attack poor closeouts, but settles for mid-range jumpers instead of getting to the rim. He’s better at attacking the rim in transition than in half-court settings. Bailey put up strong defensive production in college and has the length to be elite on that end of the court as a pro, but he needs to get stronger to make that happen. He’s also a much better offensive rebounder than a defensive one, which will need to change as a pro.
National Media Grades
ESPN: B+
CBS: A
USA Today: A
The Ringer: A
New York Post: A
Yahoo: B+
Sporting News: B
Bleacher Report: B+
SB Nation: B
Fan Insider: A-
Andrei Kirilenko: Why The Former Utah Jazz All-Star Should Have His Jersey Retired
Walter Clayton Jr.
Player Comparisons: Steph Curry, Jordan Clarkson
Analysis: Combo guard who is one of the best pure shooters in the draft class. He thrives in catch and shoot situations and has a quick release. He can shoot off the dribble and can extend all the way from 25+ feet out, wrecking havoc on defenses. He has a sneakily effective mid-range jump shot and has a tight handle, and is extremely quick in transition. He loves to run the floor and create fast break opportunities for easy baskets. He’s developed a a pick and roll facilitator and his quality assist to turnover ratio is 2 to 1. A reliable free throw shooter, shooting over 80% in three of his four college seasons.
National Media Grades
ESPN: B+
CBS: A-
USA Today: A
The Ringer: A-
New York Post: A-
Yahoo: B+
Sporting News: A-
Bleacher Report: B+
SB Nation: B+
Fan Insider: A-
Utah Jazz Roster
Kyle Anderson
Isaiah Collier
Kyle Filipowski
Keyonte George
Ace Bailey
Walter Clayton Jr.
John Tonje
Elijah Harkless
Taylor Hendricks
Walker Kessler
Kevin Love
Lauri Markkanen
KJ Martin
Svi Mykhailiuk
Jusuf Nurkic
Micah Potter
Brice Sensabaugh
Jaden Springer
Oscar Tshiebwe
Cody Williams
2025 NBA Picks
Ace Bailey (No. 5)
Walter Clayton Jr. (No. 18)
John Tonje (No. 53)
