NBA Trade Rumors: Knicks Interested in Jazz's Jordan Clarkson?
The New York Knicks are 14-2 since trading for OG Anunoby on Dec. 30. Though Anunoby has missed the last two games with elbow inflammation, they capped off the stretch with a 118-103 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
A report from HoopsHype insider Michael Scotto hints that the Knicks (31-17) might be interested in keeping one of the visitors around a little while longer.
Injuries to Anunoby and Julius Randle might force them to rethink but the Knicks have reportedly been connected to Utah guard Jordan Clarkson, who has proven to be quite the contributor off the bench in five years in Salt Lake City.
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“Whatever team can get Clarkson will be a game changer,” an anonymous NBA scout told Scotto. “I think he’s the best of the volume scorers available on the trade market.”
Clarkson, 31, is averaging 17.7 points per game for the Jazz this season. His scoring would no doubt replace the points lost when Immanuel Quickley was traded to Toronto in the Anunoby deal. Adding Clarkson would give the Knicks a scorer in the backcourt's second unit, and one of the best in the NBA at that: Clarkson was the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2020-21, his first full campaign with the Jazz.
If the Knicks were to trade for a player of Clarkson's caliber, it wouldn't be cheap: New York has several first-round picks to work with, and the Jazz would likely ask for one. The team could also include Quentin Grimes, who has seen his role reduced in Tom Thibodeau's rotation. That role could further shrink if a backcourt threat like Clarkson would come into the fold.
Scotto also notes that the Knicks are interested in forward Kelly Olynyk in the wake of Randle's injury. The two-time All-Star left Saturday's game with a dislocated shoulder and the timetable for his return has not been fully determined.
