Lakers free agency: Fred VanVleet and 4 other Klutch clients LA could sign

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 24: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on March 24, 2023 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. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 24: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on March 24, 2023 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. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
5 of 5
Jordan Clarkson Lakers
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) – Jordan Clarkson Lakers

5. Jordan Clarkson

Jordan Clarkson also has a player option this offseason that he is more than likely going to exercise. While he probably is not going to get the kind of contract he thinks he will get in free agency, he can still lock down more long-term money by opting out of his deal.

Plus, as good as he has been with the Utah Jazz, you cannot blame Clarkson for potentially wanting to move on from the team. Utah is in a rebuilding phase and is in no position to contend for a championship in the next five years.

Clarkson is at the tail end of his prime as a player in the NBA so it is time for him to join a contender and give a run at winning a championship. His only deep playoff run was in 2018 with the Cleveland Cavaliers and in that run, he proved he can be a valuable playoff guy.

Jordan Clarkson would be the third-best scorer on the Lakers

Clarkson would be a similar addition to Trent as he would cost nearly the same (would probably be a tad cheaper) and would offer the same kind of presence as a third scorer on the Lakers. However, the one drawback of his game is his inability to make threes at an efficient rate.

That being said, he is a better shot-creator than Trent and he theoretically could be a heat-check scorer for the Lakers off the bench. There is a path for Clarkson to contend for the Sixth Man of the Year again if he came back to Los Angeles.