Jordan Clarkson’s end in Utah is coming. We’d love to see him get flipped for someone like Marcus Smart, a consistent presence defensively, who can also help facilitate the offense and score when called upon. But we know that’s a pie-in-the-sky type of trade offer right now. It’s just getting so hard to root for Clarkson.
He’s the most inconsistent player on the team and when you can only do one thing as Clarkson can, score, if you can’t do that consistently, you have no value to the team. Against the New Orleans Pelicans, Clarkson’s up-and-down season continued in the most heinous of ways. The veteran was unable to find his shot, going just 3-11 from the floor, five of which came from three. He shot 50% from inside the three-point line, but his constant need to push for three-point shots when he’s terrible at hitting them (under 30% on the season) is making things harder than they need to be.
He’s not a three-point shooter and we all know it. Except for him. He’s been horrible at hitting those shots all year and instead of someone pulling him aside and telling him to stop shooting bad three-point attempts and stick to what works, he’s still given the green light and we’re all left flummoxed by it.
Making things even worse is his inability to keep possession of the ball. Clarkson had six turnovers against the Pelicans, matching the number of assets he produced. A clear sign that Clarkson is just a black hole on offense. And if he’s a black hole on defense, then what can be used to describe his defense? Nonexistent works, unlike his defensive acumen.
He’s shooting just 36% in the month of Jan. and if it wasn’t for his lone 50% outing against the Raptors, it’d be seriously lower. Even off the bench he can’t find a consistency that warrants the minutes he’s getting. It’s time to sit him until a trade can be had because this team is not better with Clarkson the floor.
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