The utah jazz star player Lauri Markkanen is excited for the good news from his wife Verna Aho for welcoming a......

The Utah jazz star player Lauri Markkanen is excited for the good news from his wife, Verna Aho, for welcoming a…

This season, it’s clear that the Utah Jazz are focusing on rebuilding, aiming to make improvements through trades, and there’s been speculation about Jordan Clarkson’s future with the team. While it was initially thought that Clarkson’s time with the Jazz was over, there’s now talk of a potential return for him in the 2024–2025 season.

Patrick Brynes of Athlon Sports suggests that Clarkson’s contract, valued at $14.092 million in 2025 and 2026, coupled with his subpar performance last season, makes him a challenging asset to trade. Brynes argues that the only way to move him would be to take on another undesirable contract in return.

While I don’t entirely agree with Brynes’ assessment, it’s true that Clarkson had a disappointing season, compounded by missing several games, mostly towards the end of the season when the team prioritized losing for draft position. Had the Jazz been in contention, Clarkson might have seen more playing time.

That being said, I don’t view Clarkson’s contract as a significant obstacle. His salary for the upcoming seasons is lower than what he earned in 2023-2024, and in today’s NBA, $14 million isn’t considered a hefty contract.

Furthermore, Clarkson could thrive in a reduced role on a team in need of scoring. Many of his struggles last season came against elite starters who posed defensive challenges. Utilising him as a bench scorer against second-string opponents could rejuvenate his game.

It’s premature to label Clarkson as washed up or incapable of contributing to another team. Other NBA franchises may see potential in him and be willing to give him an opportunity. However, the Jazz shouldn’t expect to receive significant returns in any potential trade involving him.