Daily Knicks
Fansided

Knicks Trade Rumors: Well-known players who are reportedly available

By Maxwell Ogden

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 3: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 3, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 3: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 3, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 11
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 11: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs on January 11, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 11: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs on January 11, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles Lakers

Position: Combo Guard
Age: 25 (6/7/1992)
Experience: Fourth Season
Slash Line: .442/.327/.760
Season Averages: 22.7 MPG, 13.7 PPG, 3.0 APG, 2.7 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 3PM

The Los Angeles Lakers have made it no secret that the front office wants to make a splash in free agency. In order to execute the pursuit of multiple superstars, however, the Lakers are going to need to clear as much cap space as possible.

Jordan Clarkson could be the player who enables Los Angeles to do so.

According to Adrian Wojnarowksi of ESPN, the Lakers share mutual interest with Clarkson in executing a trade—and both would prefer to get it done sooner than later.

"The Los Angeles Lakers, needing to shed salary for summer free agency, had been hopeful of waiting until the end of the season to move Jordan Clarkson — owed $26 million beyond this season — but there’s a mutual desire to find something sooner than later."

That’s an intriguing development that could pique the interest of Scott Perry and Steve Mills as they search for perimeter upgrades.

Clarkson, 25, is in the midst of his fourth NBA season. While he remains one of the most productive players on the Lakers’ roster, the former Missouri Tigers star appears to have fallen out of favor with head coach Luke Walton.

Clarkson has appeared in all 43 of the Lakers’ games, but he’s averaging a career-low 22.9 minutes per game—likely a reason for the mutual interest in a split.

A reason for his decline in playing time is that he’s currently one of the worst defensive players in the NBA. He’s a dynamic contributor on the offensive end of the floor, but ranks No. 85 amongst point guards in Defensive Real Plus-Minus.

If the New York Knicks are looking for an offensive-minded guard who can diversify the offense, however, Clarkson’s contributions may be welcome.

Home/Knicks Rumors