Lakers restricted free agent guard Jordan Clarkson expects to return to Los Angeles next year
One of the biggest narratives entering the offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers is the amount of salary cap room that they’ll have to operate with on the open market. There is talk about going after Kevin Durant, obviously, as he’s the top prize in 2016 NBA free agency. However, one of the biggest decisions that the Lakers will have in free agency is what to do in regards to Jordan Clarkson.
Clarkson just finished his second season in Los Angeles after being selected in by the Lakers in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft. Since then, though, the dynamic guard has done nothing but increase his value and make the Lakers front office look incredibly wise for identifying his talent and then knowing how to cultivate the Missouri Tigers product to where he can be an effective NBA player.
As the Lakers are in a clear transitional period in the wake of Kobe Bryant‘s retirement and with several young pieces seemingly in place to build around going forward, the question entering this offseason has been whether or not the organization sees Clarkson as one of those young pieces to build around and just how much they’re willing to pay to make sure that happens. As a second round pick, he’s entering restricted free agency this summer and that makes decision all the more precarious.
If you ask Clarkson, though, he’s not worried about it.
In the midst of all of the exit interviews from this season held this week, the notion of Clarkson’s future was obviously brought up in his line of questioning. If you ask him, the guard thinks he’s going to be in the Purple and Gold next season:
Clarkson, who’s a free agent: “I feel confident I’ll be back here. I want to be here.” Said last night made a mark on him.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 14, 2016
The general consensus among Lakers fans and the feeling that you get from the team at this point is the same sentiment that Clarkson echoed in that statement. However, what could throw a monkey wrench—and likely will—into this whole situation is another team offering JC a ton of money and putting the Lakers in the position to make a decision about whether or not to match the offer.
Obviously there is still plenty of time for things to still play out and for preliminary decisions to be made. However, it’s at least somewhat refreshing to hear the young Lakers guard say that he believes he’ll be back in LA next year and that he wants to play for this team.