What Jazz Fans Should Expect to Happen With Jordan Clarkson
Fans may have already seen the last appearance of Jordan Clarkson in a Utah Jazz uniform. The fan favorite is a free agent at the end of this season, and it has been reported that Utah is shutting him down for the season (six games).
The Jazz are one of few teams with substantial salary cap space, and they will surely look to retool around Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, Walker Kessler, and the trio of first-round draft picks set to join the team this summer. The Jazz have nearly $35 million in cap space that they could spend on extending Clarkson, signing other free agents, or trading players.
With a solid foundation in Kessler and Markkanen, the Jazz are somewhat ahead of the curve compared to most rebuilding teams and will be major players this offseason. Clarkson had a great season with the Jazz, and in a starting new role, he helped them win games.
The Athletic's Tony Jones has reported that Jazz are open to bringing Clarkson back after this season. Clarkson has gone on record praising Utah and hoping he can stay with the team long-term. But with the expectations of a $20 million/year price tag, that might be an investment not entirely in the organization's favor.
The NBA draft is June 22. Clarkson’s fate will largely hinge on how the Jazz draft as they stack their young talent.
As flashy and impressive as it's been to watch Clarkson over the years, his impact might take opportunities from young players that will be the future of the franchise.
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