Why The Utah Jazz Do The Deal

Jordan Clarkson is not a player who’s guaranteed to nab you a first-round pick.

He’s good. Clarkson has a deep bag. He can finish layups in a variety of ways, and he’s got a wide range of dribble moves. Clarkson is a born scorer.

He’s also, unfortunately, undersized. The late, great Kobe Bryant once quipped that if Allen Iverson was 6’5, he’d be the best player of all time. If Clarkson were 6’8 (and added muscle), he’d be a player that guaranteed the Jazz a first-round pick.

As it stands, Clarkson is an inefficient gunner. He’s an archetypical sixth man – a valuable player, to be sure, but there’s a reason he isn’t in starting lineups. Clarkson has trouble playing well with others. His best role is to be the focal point of an offense – in the second unit.

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At 30, he’s unlikely to improve past that time. Here, the Jazz still land a similar player who’s five years younger in Shamet, and a lottery-protected first-rounder as well. That’s probably the best deal they’re getting for Clarkson.