The Los Angeles Lakers duo of Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle are heating up as the trade deadline approaches.
On Sunday afternoon the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 127-107. Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle led the way for the team with two great individual performances. Clarkson had a double-double with 29 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds and three steals. Julius Randle had a double-double of his own with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Clarkson and Randle on a Tear
The Lakers are 6-2 in their last 8 games, with Clarkson and Randle both being large reasons why. Clarkson is averaging 15.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game during the span. Randle is averaging 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
These great individual performances are coming at an interesting time, with the trade deadline coming up. Both players have been rumored to be made available for trades by the Lakers. It remains to be seen how sought after these two players are, and it has been debated often by the fans if they should be traded.
The fact of the matter is, the great play from these two Lakers puts the team in a predicament.
Julius Randle
https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/955224761847590913
Julius Randle has had up-and-down moments throughout his young career, but he is obviously coming into his own this season. He’s averaging 21.0 points per 36 minutes. which is a career high for the 23-year-old forward.
Some believe that the Lakers should keep him and see how much better he can be. That would be difficult for the Lakers, as he is a restricted free agent after this season and could end up costing some decent money. The Lakers have to decide whether he is worth that money, especially with the opportunity of signing free agents to max deals like Paul George and LeBron James.
Jordan Clarkson
🎥 Jordan Clarkson had another strong game, tallying 29 points and 10 assists against New York. #LakersWin pic.twitter.com/kjgYkxxi0V
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 21, 2018
Jordan Clarkson doesn’t have an impending free agency but the Lakers guard has been rumored to be traded many times in his career.
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This year is no different, as Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka await the big 2018 free agency class. They have intentions of signing two superstars to max deals, and Clarkson’s contract might have to be moved. The idea might be to attach Clarkson in a deal with Luol Deng‘s terribly huge contract, which would take $30,500,000 off the books for the 2018-19 season.
Clarkson was also having an up-and-down season so far this year, averaging a career-best 22.1 points per 36 minutes while having a career low in minutes per game at 23.2. His minutes have increased the past two games due to his spectacular play and injuries, which may cause the Lakers to be more hesitant on trading him before the February 8th deadline.
Both cases will have the Lakers’ management weighing their options in the next two weeks. On one hand, Clarkson and Randle’s improved play makes them attractive trade pieces to get Deng’s contract off the books. On the other hand, their improved play has to make the Lakers wonder about what their ceilings are, talent-wise.
Do Clarkson and Randle have the opportunity to get even better? If so, it’d be beneficial to keep them past this season, and only sign one superstar to a max deal.
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We will learn more about what the Lakers’ management is thinking regarding these two players once the trade deadline passes.