The Los Angeles Lakers are back in the NBA playoffs after a slew of midseason trades gave them a new lease on life and allowed them to play very well after the All-Star break.
They had the second-best record in the NBA during that span, and they did so on the strength of their defense, which was one of the best in the league in late February, March and April.
But L.A. will have some difficult decisions to make this summer. D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Dennis Schroder and Rui Hachimura will be free agents. It may not be able to keep all of them and may need to look to the open market for a replacement.
One Eastern Conference executive thinks the Lakers may try to go after Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (h/t Lakers Daily).
Via Heavy Sports:
“There are teams that will look at him and say, ‘That is exactly what we need,’” one Eastern Conference executive told Heavy Sports regarding Clarkson. “Reliable scorer, smart player, bench or starter, good in the locker room, good presence. The Lakers really wanted to see if they could shake him free there. But Utah would rather get him to a new deal and if they are going to move him, do it later on when they have a little more leverage. You don’t have much leverage trading a free agent. I would not be surprised to see the Lakers make another run.”
Clarkson, a 6-foot-4 guard, started his career with the Lakers during the 2014-15 season. A second-round draft pick, he emerged late in the season as a capable scorer and ball-handler, and before long he became a fixture in their starting lineup.
After joining Utah, he won the Sixth Man of the Year award two seasons ago, and he averaged a career-high 20.8 points and 4.4 assists a game this season.
Clarkson has a player option for the 2023-24 campaign that he can decline to become a free agent this summer.
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