Jordan Clarkson: The Dilemma
By Keith Rivas
Being Realistic With The Rookie
To be able to compare the duo of Monta Ellis-Stephen Curry to Jordan Clarkson-D’Angelo Russell, the latter would have to actually play together.
Now how can that happen if Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott keeps Russell on the bench while Clarkson is on the hardwood?
For starters, having Russell, who is supposedly your point guard of the future, sit on the bench and play only 27 minutes per game is not helping his development.
In a season that has been lost since the end of the first month, Russell should see the floor for a minimum of 30 minutes.
In fact, he is fourth among rookies in minutes played.
Now, that’s not a stat that jumps out, but to base your future on a rookie that plays an insignificant amount of minutes is blasphemous.
Secondly, to assume that Clarkson could be the next Ellis is preposterous.
Clarkson is playing well because Byron trusts him enough to play loose. Jordan was given the opportunity last season to showcase his talents while Kobe Bryant was recovering from injury.
Look how that turned out – the 46th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft went from averaging 11.9 points per game in 2014/15 to 15.3 points this season.
The NBA is about opportunity, and Clarkson took advantage as soon as he was given a break.
Starting Lou Williams instead of Russell is not giving the rookie a chance to flourish as the superstar the coaching staff see in him.
Trading Clarkson should only be an option if it benefits the Lakers in return.
To make my point, I’ve explored trade scenarios with every team which would help the Lakers but only two would’ve benefited the franchise in the long-run:
- Trade Jordan Clarkson for Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat or a three-team trade with the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets would be more enticing
- Lakers receive Kenneth Faried, Jae Crowder and Isaiah Thomas.
- Celtics collect JJ Hickson, Julius Randle and Nikola Jokic.
- Nuggets obtain Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams and Jordan Clarkson.
This trade would allow the Lakers to bring Thomas off the bench, start a productive small forward in Crowder and a rebounding machine in Faried.
This trade is highly unlikely to happen as it is hard to envision the Celtics and Nuggets part ways with their assets.
Even with all the trade scenarios above, all the Lakers really need is to let the youngsters (Russell, Clarkson, Randle) play together in order to develop their core of the future.
Next: Take 3 - Corbin Warnock