Trade Proposal Sends Jordan Clarkson To Clippers

One NBA writer proposed that the Los Angeles Clippers acquire Jordan Clarkson from the Utah Jazz. 

Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Clippers and Jazz:

Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Jordan Clarkson

Utah Jazz Receive: P.J. Tucker, Amir Coffey, 2030 second-round pick*, 2031 second-round pick

“The Clippers feel like they need a whole bunch of stuff on offense: shooting, ball-handling, creation, table-setting, the whole nine,” Favale wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “James Harden and a healthy Kawhi Leonard are more-than-capable primaries. Los Angeles is currently set up to lean on some combination of Kris Dunn, Bones Hyland, Kevin Porter Jr. and Terance Mann for secondary support. That’s potentially fine. It may also not be enough. Especially if we’re penciling in Kawhi for 15 or more absences.

“Clarkson offers more certainty than any of the Clippers’ other non-stars. He has made strides as a live-dribble passer over the last couple of seasons, and while his three-point efficiency has mostly lagged in Utah, he will be better served on a team with which he won’t so often register as the center of attention. His time with the Jazz has also seen him deepen his inside-the-arc arsenal.”

Clarkson averaged 17.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.1 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 41.3% from the field, 29.4% from beyond the arc and 88.1% from the free-throw line in 55 games. 

Clarkson has career averages of 16.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.1 blocks with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Jazz. He won the 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year Award with Utah. 

“Punting on a couple of seconds and Coffey to get Clarkson is a more-than-reasonable price,” Favale wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “His salary is right around mid-level-exception territory for the next two years, and he’s semi-insurance against Harden leaving next summer (player option) or regressing past the point of heliocentric capacity. Utah can try holding out for a better offer but might not do better than an expiring contract and seconds. Clarkson is unlikely to net a first-rounder on his own.”

The Jazz missed the playoffs last season, while the Clippers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round in six games.