Knicks have guard Jordan Clarkson in their sights
Josh Hart of the Knicks defends against Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 30, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Knicks, like most teams could study the free agent market, put their choices in order on a whiteboard, figuring out how to spend the few dollars of cap space they had. And then sometimes things fall into your lap.
With the Utah Jazz seemingly intent on protecting their 2026 first-round draft pick, top-8 protected, and shedding salary and talent, one of the moves was to buy out Jordan Clarkson Monday morning. And suddenly a player who the Knicks had long targeted was on the free agent market and the team moved quickly, and are expected to set their sights on the 33-year-old guard once he clears waivers to bolster their bench with a dangerous established scorer.
There is a 48-hour waiver period before a player who is bought out can be signed by another team.
Clarkson spent his last six seasons with the Jazz and was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2020-21 and two seasons later averaged a career-best 20.1 points per game. This season he played just 37 games, starting nine, and averaged 16.2 points per game, shooting 36.2% from three-point range in 26 minutes per game.
The Knicks had tried to trade for Clarkson previously and with Tom Thibodeau out as head coach it’s hard to project their needs without a coach in place. But clearly there were voices in the front office who were interested in obtaining him.
The buyout opened up the possibility for the Knicks to land Clarkson, who was headed to the second year of a two-year, $28.3 million contract.
The Knicks cleared a slight bit of cap space Sunday by declining the $3.4 million team option on P.J. Tucker, while they did exercise the team option on Ariel Hukporti worth approximately $2 million, putting their salary at approximately $196.2 million entering free agency. The Knicks also extended a qualifying offer to Kevin McCullar.
With the moves the Knicks entered free agency approximately $11 million below the second apron and just $365,223 above the first apron. While they have the $5.7 million midlevel exception available, the more likely scenario is utilizing the veteran minimum to fill their bench since the midlevel exception would automatically trigger the more restrictive second apron for the Knicks.
The biggest need for the Knicks barring some trade of one of their top seven players, who are all under contract, would be strengthening the bench. The 6-3 Clarkson provides a 16 points per game career scorer who can play both guard positions and create his own shots. His shot selection is sometimes to the dismay of his coaches, but he has had a game of at least 30 points in every season but one in his career.
The Knicks had the lowest scoring bench in the NBA last season, partly due to injuries that cost Deuce McBride, Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson time, but also attributable to a roster that didn’t include established scorers. Clarkson would correct that deficiency.
The Knicks entered Monday with 10 players under contract, the top seven on the roster plus Tyler Kolek, Pacome Dadiet and Hukporti. SNY reported that the Knicks were also interested in Russell Westbrook, who had a solid season for Denver.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
