Los Angeles Lakers combo guard Jordan Clarkson. (Photo : Getty Images)
Recent rumors are out that Los Angeles Lakers combo guard Jordan Clarkson could be a target for Phil Jackson in the offseason as he is said to be fit with the system of current New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek.
Hornacek is known to maximize the potential of the guards in his previous rosters with the Phoenix Suns and the Big Apple faithful are looking forward for him to do the same in New York.
There had been a lot of rumors suggesting who the Knicks can go after via trade or free-agency this summer and Clarkson had been included in the lists for both the point guard and shooting guard positions that Jackson and Hornacek should target.
Fansided made the lists and said that Clarkson is one of the most versatile young guards in the NBA at the moment.
While the 23-year-old's offensive awareness and playmaking skills are still raw for him to become a top floor general, his quickness, athleticism, transition game, rim finishing, and outside shooting can definitely "make a positive impact from the 2-spot", especially for the Knicks.
Apparently, even with his impressive performances with the dismal Lakers in the past two seasons, Clarkson has yet to reach his full potential and Hornacek is a master at getting it out of a young player with the way he handled the trio of Eric Bledsoe, Isaiah Thomas, and Goran Dragic in Phoenix a couple of years ago.
Meanwhile, SB Nation reported that Clarkson is "excited to play for Luke Walton" next season, which means that there is a high probability that he will stay with the Lakers this summer.
The 6-foot-5 American-Filipino spit fire is set to become an unrestricted free agent this July and there are rumors that aside from the Knicks, several other teams are also interested in acquiring his services.
It would be a crucial decision for Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak if he will match all offers headed to Clarkson in the offseason as the incoming third-year player has become a key part of his young core alongside Julius Randle and D'Angelo Russell.
"I think it's dope," said Clarkson with regards to their new coach's system. "I think it fits us really well. We've got a lot of guys that can do a lot of things. Julius (Randle), D'Angelo (Russell), Larry Nance (Jr.), including myself. So I think it's something we should definitely be excited for... We're waiting for them to be done with so he can come and start working with us."
