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

By Donny McHenry

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
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 19: Luol Deng #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers gets introduced before the game against the LA Clippers on October 19, 2017 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Moving Luol Deng’s Contract

Even though moving Jordan Clarkson at the deadline would not improve the 2017-18 Lakers, it could improve the 2018-19 Lakers. One way this could work out is finding a way to attach Luol Deng in a trade involving Jordan Clarkson.

Ever since the Lakers found a way to move Timofey Mozgov’s contract, everyone has been speculating if the Lakers could move Luol Deng’s equally terrible contract. The 32-year-old veteran is owed $18.0 million in 2018-19 and $18.8 million in 2019-20. No team will take Deng in a trade without the Lakers adding in some valuable assets, as they did with D’Angelo Russell and Mozgov.

Clarkson might be the D’Angelo to Deng’s Mozgov this year. You could try and pair Julius Randle and/or Larry Nance Jr. with Deng to try and trade his contract, but who knows if NBA teams would take it.

Randle is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, so it’d be risky for a team to take him in a trade. Nance has always been a decent role player for the Lakers with absurd athleticism, but it’s doubtful that he would be enough for an NBA team to bring on Deng’s contract.

That brings us to Clarkson, who has been producing as of late and has a very cheap contract. Not only is it a cheap contract, but it provides control through the 2019-20 season for whatever team that would like to trade for him. Between his production on the court and his favorable contract, he may be the best way to move Deng’s unfavorable contract.

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