Lakers rumors: Who is most likely to be traded from young core?

Jordan Clarkson

A move to the bench under Luke Walton seems to have brought out a lot of value in Jordan Clarkson. The third year player re-signed with Los Angeles in the off-season after rumor had it that he could have ended up with the Knicks, but chose not to.

Averaging 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists, Clarkson was the perfect side piece to Lou Williams. As part of the business side of things, the Lakers dealt Williams at the deadline to the Houston Rockets.

Now the Lakers won’t have as strong of a bench presence, since WIlliams put up respectable numbers. Clarkson was a big part of the early season success this year, but overall the team’s fire seemed to die out.

Now they wait and see if they win the draft lottery and get another top-3 pick. That draft pick could be point guard Lonzo Ball from UCLA, which could also move other pieces around on offense.

If Clarkson is cool with his bench role by then, the Lakers could plan on keeping him. Should an opportunity come up for a superstar, as in the aforementioned Randle situation, it’s plausible that the front office could put him in a package deal.

They’d be smart to if they ever feel that they’d get more out of him in a trade.

Chance of Trade: 35%