3 Jazz Free-Agent Guard Targets to Replace Jordan Clarkson
As we approach free agency and the 2023 NBA draft, the Utah Jazz stand as one of the few teams with substantial cap space. With a rather weak free-agent class, the Jazz may not find the perfect fit and may instead elect to invest the coming season toward their youth development.
But there will be discussions, debate, and speculation among Jazz Nation this summer, and The Frozen Rope is here for it all. One thing is for sure: the two building blocks of the franchise are Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler.
Building around these two will be Utah's focus, and analyzing any free agent will start and end with how they fit around the duo. A couple of major factors play into how a free agent's fit can be analyzed.
To narrow the class down, the first thing will be looking at age. Markkanen and Kessler are looking at a timeline of contention in 3-4 years. Kessler is 21, and Markkanen is 25, so the oldest any major free agent should be is 25-26.
Next, the free-agent target should be a guard. The Jazz have the front court secured with the two 7-footers, and with few playmakers surrounding the two, guards should be the target.
Jordan Clarkson is expected to hit free agency, where he should have plenty of teams lining up to acquire his services, but the soon to be 31 year-old may not be the perfect fit for the Jazz long term. With the high likelihood of his departure, the Jazz will be looking to replace his production.
The Jazz have three draft picks in this year’s draft, so youth could be the answer. There are free agents who could not only replace Clarkson’s production but fit more cohesively with Kessler and Markkanen.
With these requirements set, three free-agent guards emerge as prime targets for Jazz CEO Danny Ainge. Let's break it down.
Austin Reaves
Reaves, 24, is currently on an incredible playoff stretch with the
Los Angeles Lakers and is proving his playmaking and his ability to rise to the moment. His averages in the 2022-23 season have all the indications that he will be a productive player in the league. The only caveat is that he's set to be a restricted free agent, so watch for the Lakers to pay to keep the guard.
Lonnie Walker IV
Walker, 24, is another Laker who's played a huge role in getting them to the Western Conference Finals. Walker signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract in the summer of 2022 after not finding a long-term deal.
The Lakers will position themselves to keep Walker or Reaves, but if the Jazz can win in negotiations, they should be able to add one of the two guards to their roster.
Gary Trent Jr.
Trent, 24, has had a ton of experience for his age and has been productive — from starting his career with Damian Lillard in Portland to scoring alongside Pascal Siakam in Toronto. Trent is a step ahead in his production and would fit the timeline of Kessler and Markkanen well.
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