Why The Phoenix Suns Do The Deal
Clarkson may not be worth a first-round pick – to most teams. On the other hand, the Suns are desperate for guard depth.
That holds particularly true in light of Chris Paul’s age. At 37, it’s hard to say exactly how effective he’ll be in 2022-23. Anything the Suns can do to preserve him amounts to a good decision.
Of course, that’s not to say Clarkson is a Paul replacement. He isn’t. Clarkson doesn’t nearly have Paul’s floor vision, three-point shooting, or defense. There’s a reason Paul is a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, whereas Clarkson doesn’t nearly approach that status.
Still, he’s a very proficient scorer. Moreover, Clarkson had a down year in 2021-22: in all likelihood, he’ll bounce back to some extent next season. In any event, he’s a clear upgrade over Cam Payne, the first guard off the bench for the Suns at the moment.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz & Phoenix Suns Updates
That’s not to say Payne isn’t talented either. This is the NBA – everyone is. That doesn’t mean that everyone can see the floor, either.
