Ex-Jazz Assistant Makes Bold Prediction on Clarkson, Horton-Tucker Future

The Utah Jazz are in a position to be aggressive in the free-agent market for the first time since the summer of 2019. How deep Utah’s pockets are will depend on two decisions that are out of the team's control.

Jordan Clarkson ($14.26 million) and Talen Horton-Tucker ($11.020 million) can opt in or out of their contracts with the June 29 deadline approaching. According to former Jazz assistant coach Gordon Chiesa, the pair will most likely roll the dice in the open market.

Chiesa shared his opinion on The Bill Riley Show on ESPN 700.

“They’ll [Jazz] know more roughly on June 28 or so when either Talen Horton-Tucker opts out of his $11 million contract or Jordan Clarkson opts out of his $14.2 million contract—both player options," Chiesa told Riley. “I’m going to lean towards those guys opting out because, business-wise, those guys have some street credit.”

During the first half of the season, it was a foregone conclusion that Clarkson would be opting out or re-singing a multi-year deal with the Jazz. However, injuries in the second half of the season may have hurt his stock moving forward.

There have been reports that Clarkson is seeking a deal in the $20M/year range, but that feels a little steep, considering he will be turning 31 before the start of the season. That said, finding a buyer that’s willing to pay north of $14M per year sounds reasonable.

What Horton-Tucker decides to do feels more like a coin toss. 'THT' doesn’t have a track record of consistency, but due to his young age (22) and high ceiling, there may be a franchise willing to jump in with both feet with a multi-year deal.

If THT walks, the Jazz have other players currently rostered who can start at the one in Kris Dunn and Collin Sexton, but expect Utah to explore other options, whether it’s via trade, draft, or free agency.

What’s available in free agency is pretty slim in regard to the point guard position, but if Toronto Raptors Fred VanVleet were to hit the market, the Jazz have the means to get in on the bidding. There’s also Anthony Black and Cason Wallace who could be available through the draft.

It’s going to be a wild offseason starting with the lottery on May 16.

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