Jordan Clarkson is reportedly the top free agent the Los Angeles Lakers shoud sign this offseason, according to the latest NBA rumors.
After another dismal season, the Lakers have plenty to address this summer, including their search for a marquee player who could take over Kobe Bryant's place in LA.
Plenty of upcoming free agents have been linked as the Lakers' possible free agency target, but according to Carter Johnson of Hoops Habit, re-signing Clarkson should be the priority of LA's front office instead of looking far ahead in signing star free agents.
"As unpopular of an opinion as this might be, yes - re-signing Jordan Clarkson should be more important to the Lakers' front office than landing any of the aforementioned players, even Kevin Durant," Johnson wrote.
Clarkson, who is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, has undoubtedly improved his game in his sophomore year with the Lakers, posting career-high averages of 15.5 points, while playing 32.0 minutes. The Missouri product is expected to decline the Lakers' qualifying offer of $1.1 million to explore the market for more lucrative deals.
Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle may have shown a glimpse of what they could do to help the Lakers turn things around next season. However, their up and down performances could have an effect on free agents' decision to join the 16-time NBA champs, leaving the Lakers in another risky situation of whether cashing it all-in for their youngsters, or going hard in free agency to lure the likes of Kevin Durant or DeMar Derozan, according to Hannah Kulik of Lakers Nation.
"The Lakers must decide what to focus on this summer in the draft and free agency, which will depend on their assessment of Russell, Randle and Clarkson and whether they can finish the season strong," Kulik noted. "With this uncertainty, do the Lakers build around these three players or trade one or more if there are better replacements available at their positions?"
LA could be a more attractive destination for free agents, with the team having plenty of cap space to sign one or two superstars on a max contract. But even having plenty of cap room to acquire top-talented free agents in the market, many view the Lakers as the least favorite to land superstars, who are keen to join contenders instead of teams on reclamation projects.