Jordan Clarkson (Photo : Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a winnable battle to retaining combo guard Jordan Clarkson in free agency.
Clarkson, who is set to become a restricted free agent in July, is expected to draw interests from many teams that are in need of a scoring guard. According to ESPN's Ian Begley, the New York Knicks, who are also in the hunt for a quality point guard, are one of the possible teams who could make a run at Clarkson this summer.
In the Lakers' two disappointing seasons, Clarkson consistently put up strong numbers, posting career averages of 14.0 points and 2.9 assists per game. It may hurt Lakers fans to see Clarkson join another team in the offseason, with the Filipino-American guard becoming one of LA's most reliable scoring option. But fortunately for those who bleed Purple and Gold, all signs point to the Lakers retaining Clarkson and Clarkson wanting to remain a Laker.
"L.A. is like home for me, so I definitely want to be here. I definitely want to stay in L.A. but kind of have an open mind," Clarkson told NBC Los Angeles.
The Lakers also hold the advantage if ever keeping Clarkson leads to a bidding war. LA will have the rights to match any offer from any teams given to the 26-year-old guard, and with the Lakers having a projected max salary cap space of more than $60 million, it is unlikely they be outmatched by any of the other clubs interested in Clarkson.
However, there could be a slight chance the Lakers not re-sign Clarkson or possibly include him in a deal, with rumors aplenty of LA dealing one of their young talents for a proven star or another top pick.
D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers' other young talented guard, has been in the center of these speculations, including a potential deal for the Boston Celtics' No. 3 pick. Chicago Bulls' star Jimmy Butler has also been linked to the Lakers, with the Bulls looking to trade up in the draft. If such deals materialize, Clarkson's name would surely be included in possible trade talks.
There is also the possibility of LA selecting another guard in this year's draft, which may turn Clarkson as the odd man out. The Lakers are reportedly among the teams showing interests in Providence Friars guard Kris Dunn, who is projected to be selected as fifth overall. It is undetermined whether the team is really bringing another guard to Tinsel town, but it is also worth noting Steve Kyler's (Basketball Insiders) report of LA "not locked on anyone" in the draft, meaning they could pass on Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram.
The Lakers will need all quality acquisitions this offseason to once again become legit contenders in the league. While Clarkson may not be the team's top priority this summer, retaining him is still the most logical move for a team needing all the help they can get.
