Los Angeles Lakers: Can Earl Clark Provide Spark?

Watching the Los Angeles Lakers, it is clear that their struggles can’t be attributed to just a single issue. They have come up short in some areas that have ultimately helped lead to their disappointing start.

It would be hard to argue that any issue has been more harmful than their lack of consistency. Whether it be defensive lapses or long offensive draughts, the Lakers have often found their biggest obstacle the inability to find a consistent flow from game to game (or even quarter to quarter).

Creating that consistency takes time, even for established teams, but a team with a new coaching staff and new players at a number of key positions will need even more time to put it all together. Add in injuries, and the process gets stretched out even further.

Unfortunately, one of the only consistent themes for the Lakers this season has been injuries.

The Lakers have already lost Steve Nash and Xavier Henry for the year, Nick Young is still finding his groove after missing the first three weeks of the season, and Ryan Kelly has managed to play in just a few games due to hamstring issues.

To combat the injuries, and maybe help improve that on-court consistency by providing healthy bodies, the Lakers have been rumored to be in talks with a familiar face from the past. According to news first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter, the Lakers are working out a deal with Earl Clark:

For those of you that have forgotten, Earl Clark was one of the lone bright spots in what turned out to be one of the more disappointing seasons in recent Lakers’ history.

Initially seen as little more than a required throw-in needed to complete the Dwight Howard trade, Clark was thrust into active duty when injuries began to pile up for frontcourt players Pau Gasol and Howard.

Clark immediately brought a level of hustle and an influx of athleticism that had been sorely lacking.

While not capable of filling the large shoes of Gasol or Howard, he did show glimpses of the talent that caused him to be a lottery pick in 2009. In fact, one of most memorable highlights from all of 2013 might have been Clark’s coming- party against the Spurs on January 9^th. In this game, Clark went from complete unknown to fan favorite with his 22 point, 13 rebound performance in San Antonio.

It was performances such as this game in San Antonio that ultimately lead to Clark pricing himself out of what the Lakers could afford to pay as they looked to create space to reload around their crop of superstars.

Since parting ways, neither side has seen much success on the court. The Lakers, as we all know, have seen Howard and Gasol leave town while Clark has found himself in Cleveland, New York, Memphis and Houston.

Given that the most success Clark has seen as a pro came in LA, it makes sense that he would want to return. But what, if anything, can he offer to the Lakers to make this signing worthwhile?

Maybe the biggest contribution he can offer is front-court versatility, especially on the defensive end. Clark is not a banger, but his 6-10 and 225 lbs. frame allows him to guard bigger guys down low when the situation (or player availability) makes it necessary. At the same time, his athleticism will give the Lakers something they have lacked up to this point.

On the offensive end, Clark can give a bit of floor spacing himself. While he is not a great outside shooter, his 33% 3pt shooting while in LA shows that he must at least be respected from that range.

He is also a high energy player that does not need the offense to run plays for him. This high energy can result in more opportunities through offensive rebounds or easy baskets on fast breaks.

One of the most underrated boosts that Clark can bring to the team would be in the chemistry department. The combination of his easy-going personality and his unselfishness on the court helped to make him a popular player among his teammates during his first stay in Los Angeles.

When a team is struggling as the Lakers have struggled so far this year, having guys that are good in the locker room can be key to keeping everyone together.

Earl Clark won’t solve all that ails the Lakers in 2014, but he can provide some depth and some improved chemistry in the locker room.

If he can also flash a little of the talent he put on display at times during his first go-around with LA, he might also bring some much-needed excitement back to the Lakers as well.