The Lakers are still in the quest to sign at least one big name free agent looking ahead to the summer of 2018. They would need to clear some cap space and Jordan Clarkson could be one player the team might see as expendable given his relatively large contract. But despite the trade rumors, the Lakers have high hopes for Clarkson next season.
Lakers team president Magic Johnson spoke at Jordan Clarkson’s basketball camp recently and he had some words regarding Clarkson’s role next season. He challenged the 25-year-old guard to win the 2017-2018 Sixth man of the Year award.
The following coming from Lakers Nation:
“He’s going to play a major role in us being a better team this year.
“We felt we put some weapons around him that will even make his game better.
“I have challenged him because I want him to be Sixth Man of the Year. So I’ve challenged him to play like that.
“I think he has the potential, the talent. He’s worked hard this summer.”
Clarkson took a step back in his career this past season playing a bench role to the Lakers. In the 2015-2016 season, Clarkson started 79 games, this past season, only starting 19 game. It comes just one season after he started 79 games in 2015-16. If continues to adjust to his new role it could usher in the next wave of playmaking bench guards following in the footsteps of Jamal Crawford, Lou Williams and Eric Gordon.
