Tag: Jordan Clarkson

NBA trade deadline 2024: The 10 most interesting players available and what it’ll cost to get them

Dejounte Murray, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are some names to watch.

The 2024 NBA trade deadline is approaching in just a few weeks and we may see a few former All-Stars involved in transactions.

As noted by my colleague Mike Sykes, this deadline may be quieter than normal because some of the bigger names (such as Pascal Siakam, O.G. Anunoby, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Bruce Brown and Terry Rozier) have already gotten traded.

But that doesn’t mean we will see no star power or players of value get moved. With that in mind, we took a look at some of the most intriguing trade candidates in the NBA and shared their expected value based on the most trusted reporting around the league.

Here is how it is shaking out so far:

Takeaways: In pivotal game, Alperen Sengun’s career night lifts Rockets over Jazz

In a game with potentially large standings implications, Alperen Sengun tied his career high with 37 points as Houston rallied past Utah in overtime.

HOUSTON — In a game with potentially significant standings implications, Rockets center Alperen Sengun led the way with a career-high-tying 37 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists in Saturday’s thrilling 127-126 overtime win (box score) over the Jazz. A rising All-Star candidate, Sengun made 15-of-26 shots (57.7%) for the game, often while facing strong defense from Utah’s Walker Kessler.

With Saturday’s result in, Houston (20-21) and Utah (22-22) are currently separated by a half-game in an extremely tight race for the final two play-in tournament spots in the Western Conference.

Sengun and rookie Amen Thompson each had a key late block for the Rockets, who played the final two minutes of regulation and overtime without Fred VanVleet, who fouled out. Houston’s veteran floor general finished with 18 points and 7 assists.

Jabari Smith Jr. had 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals while shooting 4-of-8 from 3-point range (50.0%). Smith’s free throw in the final minute of overtime was the decisive point, though it came at a cost, since he subsequently limped off with a sprained left ankle (which occurred on the foul leading to free throws).

Fellow rookie Cam Whitmore was impressive with 17 points and 5 rebounds in 27 reserve minute, shooting 4-of-6 from 3-point range (66.7%). That helped Houston survive another off night from starter Jalen Green, who had 7 points while missing all six of his 3-pointers.

The Jazz were led by veteran guards Jordan Clarkson (33 points) and Collin Sexton (28 points). But despite combining to score 61, each missed a close shot in the final 40 seconds of overtime that could have put Utah in front. The Jazz had won 12 of their previous 15 games going in, while the Rockets were coming off a 1-5 road trip.

Here’s our look at Saturday’s highlights and postgame interviews from Toyota Center, along with reaction by media members and fans. Houston continues its homestand with night two of a back-to-back on Sunday versus Boston (32-10), with tipoff at 6:00 p.m. Central.

Charles Barkley absolutely roasted Jordan Clarkson for his seafaring pregame outfit and captain’s hat

Charles Barkley had some thoughts about Jordan Clarkson’s seafaring outfit and captain’s hat.

Ahead of the Utah Jazz taking on the Los Angeles Lakers in the group stage of the NBA In-Season Tournament on Tuesday night, guard Jordan Clarkson showed up to the game in a very interesting outfit.

Clarkson sported what looked like a captain’s hat and coat like he was about to set off to sea for an adventure, and former NBA star Charles Barkley wasn’t about to let Clarkson slide for his fashion choice without a little trolling.

On the pregame coverage for NBA on TNT, Barkley joked about Clarkson’s outfit, rhetorically asking him if he knew Halloween had already come and gone.

Ouch! Clarkson’s seafaring hat and outfit was a bold choice for the pregame attire, and Barkley didn’t miss the opportunity to get in a very funny roast.

Maybe Clarkson’s captain’s hat would inspire a great performance on the court? If it did, perhaps Barkley would give him credit for his outfit.

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10 U.S.-born NBA players (Karl-Anthony Towns!) who are on non-American FIBA World Cup rosters

Jordan Clarkson will represent the Philippines, who will also host the tournament.

The 2023 FIBA World Cup begins next week and 32 teams will compete in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia for a shot at a gold medal.

Although the United States men’s basketball team has a strong roster and enters the tournament as favorites, there are several other national teams (e.g. Canada!) who have a chance to make some noise.

While many of the top international stars are not able to play for one reason or another, there are some familiar faces you may see who you thought were American but are not playing for Team USA.

FIBA allows teams to have one naturalized player on their roster. Let’s run through some of the notable names you’ll see on other rosters:

Jordan Clarkson fouled out after awful offensive contact in a tough Gilas loss at the FIBA World Cup

This was NOT an ideal foul for Jordan Clarkson.

Jordan Clarkson played well against the Dominican Republic, but it wasn’t enough to get the win in the opening match of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

It was a true thriller in the Manila Philippine Arena in front of 38,115 fans, which was the biggest crowd in FIBA World Cup tournament history. It beat the previous record by nearly 6,000 fans. Those in attendance got to watch a heavyweight battle between Clarkson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Clarkson was indisputably the leader of the offense for the Gilas, scoring 28 points before eventually getting called for his fifth foul of the game. But he was called for his fifth foul late in the fourth quarter, which was deflating for the Philippines.

This was a really poorly-timed foul from Clarkson, who was clearly the glue to the offense for his national team.

The Gilas struggled to score in the closing minutes after Clarkson became ineligible and when it was all said and done, it was the Dominican Republic that finished on top.

Towns finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, recording three offensive boards during the contest. It was his first official game for his national team since 2013.

Clarkson and the Philippines will next take on Angola on Aug. 27 and then Italy on Aug. 29. They will have a tough road ahead to get out of Group A and to potentially qualify for the 2024 Olympics in France, but they are still within contention.

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Jordan Clarkson calls Kobe Bryant his GOAT

Jordan Clarkson credited late Lakers great Kobe Bryant with teaching him a lot about the game of basketball when he started out in the NBA.

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Aug. 23, 2023 would’ve been late Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant’s 45th birthday, and the basketball world has been left to wonder what kind of impact he would’ve continued to have on the sport.

Even after retiring as a player in 2016, Bryant mentored a number of NBA players, either personally or from a distance, and he became a strong advocate for women’s sports, especially the WNBA.

Today’s generation of NBA players readily cite Bryant as someone they look up to. One of them is Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, who was lucky enough to play with Bryant in his first two seasons in the league.

Clarkson said that the Black Mamba is his GOAT (greatest of all-time) and said he learned plenty from the Lakers legend (h/t Lakers Daily).

“It meant a lot being around him my earlier years, definitely my GOAT, a guy that I learned a lot from,” Clarkson said. “And he taught me so much. He means a lot to my career and the game of basketball, period.”

Since leaving the Lakers midway through the 2017-18 season, Clarkson, a second-round draft pick in 2014, has blossomed into a very good player. He was the Sixth Man of the Year for the 2020-21 campaign and averaged 20.8 points and 4.4 assists a game, both of which were career-highs, this past season.

Extension before 2023 free agency: Who are the candidates?

Here are six players who could avoid free agency by receiving an extension this week.

As free agency approaches, potential free agents are preparing for their future. Teams and players can begin negotiations on June 30, the final day of the 2022-23 salary cap year. Some players, still extension-eligible till that date, can bypass free agency by signing a new deal now. Naz Reid and the Minnesota Timberwolves have initiated proceedings three-year, $42 million deal that he was eligible to sign all season long.

Some players like Draymond Green and Khris Middleton, who seem like good bets to re-sign with their current teams would make sense as extension candidates. However, they could be looking at securing long-term deals where they get a lower starting salary. They wouldn’t be allowed to extend at a lower starting salary than the player option amounts they declined, but they could in free agency. The new CBA has changed that rule to allow such players with options to extend at lower amounts starting next offseason.

Here are several other players who remain extension-eligible and could come to terms on a deal prior to free agency.

New Rockets targets emerge in NBA’s 2023 free agency

2023 #Rockets free agency targets reportedly include names like Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Bruce Brown, Jordan Clarkson, Austin Reaves, Cam Johnson, Dillon Brooks, and Jakob Poeltl.

With an NBA-leading figure of approximately $60 million in space beneath the 2023-24 salary cap, the Rockets have been linked to big-name pursuits in the 2023 free agency. Many media reports have tied them to the likes of James Harden and Fred VanVleet, which could offer a veteran presence to surround Houston’s young core.

The Rockets will also have the room exception at their disposal, which allows for an additional contract starting at near $8 million.

Yet, since the rebuilding Rockets aren’t going to immediately contend for a championship regardless of this offseason’s signings, general manager Rafael Stone will need to balance short-term upgrades with a need for value contracts on the team’s books.

Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets will likely try to sign three or four free agents, with a particular emphasis on two-way production (offense and defense). Two could be signed to larger deals, while one or two others may fill in around them.

By position groups of guards, wings, and bigs, here’s a statistical look at Feigen’s list (published Sunday, June 25) of potential Rockets targets in 2023 free agency. Three of these names are restricted, meaning that the player’s current team would have the opportunity to match any deal and block a potential move to Houston.

All statistics are from the NBA’s 2022-23 regular season.

B/R: Brooklyn Nets among teams able to pay Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson more money

The Brooklyn Nets are expected to be among a number of teams that are able to pay Jordan Clarkson more money in free-agency, according to Bleacher Report.

The Brooklyn Nets are on a list of teams that could pay Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson more money if he wants it, according to a recent article by Bleacher Report. The context of Clarkson possibly going to a team like the Nets is if he opts out of his $14.3 million 2023-24 player option and explores free-agency.

The article does point out that Clarkson could also opt in to his player option and possibly sign an extension that could make his contracts tenable to more teams. This thought experiment is assuming that the Jazz either aren’t able to pay or don’t want to pay the 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year what he wants.

With regards to Brooklyn, Clarkson could be an interesting option since the Nets have had issues with bench scoring over the years. With the team at a crossroads in terms of whether they’re still trying to win now or if they’re going to embrace a rebuild of some sort, the former 46th pick in the 2014 Draft may not be the best use of resources for a young team. However, if Clarkson is able to be acquired for a cheap-enough cost, Brooklyn should explore that possibility:

“If Utah isn’t offering enough, Clarkson could seek at least a $12.2 million mid-level exception or some of a team’s cap room. But he probably needs to clearly understand where his next contract is coming from to opt out.

Just under half the league projects to have the full mid-level—tentatively the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Hornets, Nets, Blazers, Raptors and Wizards. The cap-space teams likely include Detroit, Houston, Indiana, Oklahoma City, Orlando and San Antonio. But would they be seeking what Clarkson provides on the court?”

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NBA executive ‘would not be surprised’ if Lakers go after Jordan Clarkson

One executive of an Eastern Conference team feels the Lakers may try to bring back guard Jordan Clarkson this summer.

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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