Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons trading Jordan Clarkson is the right move

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 19: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on prior to the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 19, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 19: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on prior to the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 19, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons trading Jordan Clarkson is the right move
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 19: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 19, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Lakers’ Most Valuable Asset Right Now

Clarkson has been rumored to be traded before in his career but has obviously never been moved. The reason for this might be his lack of consistency on the basketball court.

In the 2016-17 season, Clarkson averaged 13.0 points per game in the month of February. He then followed that up with 19.4 points per game in the month of March, only to drop back down to 13.1 points per game in the final seven games in April.

We are seeing this inconsistency again this season as the former Missouri guard averaged 12.4 points per game in December compared to his current 15.6 points per game in January.

The fact of the matter is, who knows which Jordan Clarkson we may get in the months following the February 8th trade deadline. He has been on fire for the past couple weeks, so maybe other NBA teams are over-valuing him.

If so, the Lakers would be wise to take advantage and get some more pieces while at the same time clearing cap space for 2018-19.

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