Los Angeles Lakers: Team better off with Ian Clark than Derrick Rose
By Asha Doucet
The Los Angeles Lakers are still looking for a veteran point guard to guide Lonzo Ball. Between Derrick Rose and Ian Clark, Clark is the better fit for L.A.
The Los Angeles Lakers need a veteran point guard to come off the bench and help guide Lonzo Ball. L.A. has recently shown interest in Derrick Rose and Ian Clark that translated into meetings with both players.
ESPN Sources: Derrick Rose completed approximate 3-hour meeting with Los Angeles Lakers. Both sides felt good about it. Deliberation time.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 20, 2017
I'm told the Lakers also met with free-agent guard Ian Clark today.
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) July 21, 2017
The Lakers reportedly met with Rose for three hours while also meeting with Clark for some time on Thursday. Although Rose may be a more prolific scorer, despite his injury woes, Clark is more of a sustainable player that could equal stability for a young team.
Rose averaged 18 points on 47.1 percent shooting to go along with 4.4 assists last season for the New York Knicks. However, he is one of the more injury prone players in the league. He also had “behavioral” issues of sorts in New York that included going AWOL on the Knicks for what he called a family issue.
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Clark, on the other hand, averaged just 6.8 points on 48.7 percent shooting to go along with 1.2 assists, but is also an NBA champion. Clark’s championship experience on a team that plays the exact way Luke Walton coaches, means not only would he be a seamless addition but he knows what it takes to win. Sure he was on a team with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant leading the way, but he’s played under a philosophy the Lakers want to instill in their young team, which could help when it comes to molding Ball.
If L.A. wants a point guard with the ability to score in bunches off the bench, Rose is the better option. But if the Lakers aren’t concerned with putting points on the board, Clark is a much better choice. He comes from the right system with championship experience that would make for a better teacher for Lonzo.
Rose is still a capable player, but with the scoring ability of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Ingram, Brook Lopez, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle, his skillset is not what L.A. needs most. They need a steady ball handler that can control the floor when Ball is on the bench. Clark fits that description. He also has a history with Walton and can score when called upon.
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The Lakers have yet to make their decision, and salary agreements will likely have a big impact on who they sign if either of these two guards. But if L.A. has the ability to sign either financially and it comes down to their preference, they’d be smart to choose Clark.