Since the Utah Jazz decided to rebuild, all of their veterans have received siren calls from across the league. Of all those who started, only Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson survive on the roster. The future will tell if they end up getting traded sooner or later, but at the moment the franchise seems to want to keep Clarkson at all costs. According to Zach Lowe and other sources close to the team, the Jazz are delighted with his level and what he brings from the doors on the inside.
Utah has started the season like a shot, winning its first three games and going 4-1 overall. Totally unexpected on a team whose only short-term goal seems to be to be in the running for the next No. 1 pick in the draft. In this great start Clarkson has the reason for it, starring in his career highs in points (18.8), assists (5.2), rebounds (4.2) and minutes (31). The base has even left behind the comfort of the sixth man to command the starting lineup. This should make you a piece of value to profit from as the market closes. But the Jazz’s initial plan is to keep him despite the rumors that they have placed him in the Lakers or Suns.
Although surprising, this movement would not be new. In recent times, the value that franchises in reconstruction give to these figures capable of leading by example on and off the field has already been seen. The Houston Rockets did it with Eric Gordon and the Orlando Magic extended Gary Harris’ contract for two years and $26 million this summer. Some time ago Clarkson said he was “prepared for whatever happens.” And from the looks of it so far with him and the Jazz, it sounds like he was dead serious.
(Cover photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
