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Ranking Julius Randle and the 5 best former Los Angeles Lakers

By Jason Reed

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 11: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks in action against the Toronto Raptors during a game at Madison Square Garden on April 11, 2021 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Raptors 102-96. 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. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 11: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks in action against the Toronto Raptors during a game at Madison Square Garden on April 11, 2021 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Raptors 102-96. 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. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

4. Jordan Clarkson

Jordan Clarkson is in the running for the Sixth Man of the Year award and just got a massive contract from the Utah Jazz prior to the 2020-21 season. It is easy to look at that hype and look at the points per game number and think that Clarkson is a better all-around player than Lonzo Ball.

He just isn’t. I know it is really easy to treat Lonzo like a meme but it is quite clear that even with Clarkson’s breakout with the Jazz, the much younger Ball is already a better player than Clarkson.

Again, the traditional box score numbers look pretty decent for Clarkson. He is averaging 18 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game off the bench. Impressive, right? Well, not so much. If Ball was given the same chances in the offense he would be averaging more points and is already doing more for the rest of the offense.

Clarkson is shooting 42% from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc. Clarkson has an eFG% of 51.5%, Ball is sitting at 53.7%. If Lonzo took the exact number of shots that Clarkson does then he would be averaging 18.3 points per game.

So he would have the edge in points if he was used more, already has the edge in other offensive metrics and is a far better defensive player than Clarkson. Clarkson is below league average with a -1.0 DBPM, Ball is slightly above average with a 0.2 DPBM (he has posted as high as a 1.6 DBPM, his team defense certainly does not help).

If I am picking one player to add to a playoff team it is Lonzo Ball, not Jordan Clarkson, as good as he has become.

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