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Lakers Rumors: Jordan Clarkson offered to Detroit Pistons

By Kenneth Teape

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 28: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors on January 28, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 28: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors on January 28, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve Jordan Clarkson, as the team has reportedly offered him to the Detroit Pistons.

Los Angeles Lakers rumors are picking up with the NBA Trade Deadline less than two weeks away. If the Lakers want to achieve their goal of clearing enough cap space to offer two max contracts in free agency, they will have to get to work on making moves with the roster.

The most obvious way to shed salary is to move Luol Deng. That is easier said than done, as it is virtually impossible for the Lakers to trade that contract.

The Lakers have some assets they could attach to Deng to sweeten a deal, much as they did with Timofey Mozgov. That is a poor way to do business in the long run, as the assets they are trading off are as valuable to them as they are to the teams that would want to acquire them.

While trading Deng would be the most beneficial move for the Lakers, there are other avenues to take in regards to clearing cap space. One of them would be trading guard and sixth man, Jordan Clarkson.

Clarkson has been in trade rumors for months. Going all the way back to the 2017 NBA Draft, Clarkson has been mentioned in trade offers as the Lakers attempted to pry Paul George away from the Indiana Pacers.

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Their efforts didn’t come to fruition, as George was eventually traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, that has not stopped the Lakers from engaging in trade proposals that include Clarkson.

In early August it was reported that the Lakers would trade Clarkson if it meant opening cap space, and they were confident they could do it. In December Clarkson was mentioned as someone the Lakers would try to move this season.

It seems as if those reports were accurate, as a trade proposal has now come across the grapevine.

According to Vincent Ellis of the Detroit Free Press, the Lakers offered Jordan Clarkson to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Avery Bradley.

The Pistons have recently made Bradley available in trade talks. According to ESPN, the Pistons’ asking price for Bradley is significant, which isn’t a surprise. Bradley is regarded as one of the best two-way shooting guards in the NBA.

The Pistons acquired Bradley last offseason in a trade with the Boston Celtics. Coincidentally, it was that move that opened up the opportunity for the Lakers to sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency after Detroit renounced his rights.

When first reading this, some people may say this is a bad deal for the Lakers. Bradley is having a tough season in Detroit, while Clarkson is blossoming in his sixth man role. However, when taking a deeper look, this trade would be more about cleaning the books than production on the court.

Bradley is set to become a free agent after this season. Clarkson, on the other hand, is owed almost $26 million the next two seasons. That isn’t a bad price tag given what players receive in free agency nowadays, but it limits what the Lakers can do in free agency.

If the Lakers moved Clarkson’s contract and received an impending free agent such as Bradley, it would theoretically give them enough cap space to offer two max deals in free agency this upcoming summer.

Los Angeles would have just about $38.6 million on the books heading into the summer. That would give them plenty of flexibility in free agency.

Next: 5 Potential Landing Spots For Jordan Clarkson

With that being the ultimate goal of the front office, this could be a deal the Lakers look to pursue in the coming weeks. Cap space and free agency are risky, but if the Lakers want to truly get their rebuild off the ground it may be the path they choose to take.

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