The Los Angeles Lakers were determined to acquire another pick in the 2014 NBA draft after selecting Julius Randle out of Kentucky with the seventh overall pick back in June. Mitch Kupchak and company were able to convince the Washington Wizards to sell their 48th pick ultimately resulting in the team acquiring Jordan Clarkson out of Missouri.
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Although the Randle will get much of the attention as the season gets underway, Clarkson has really made an impression, according to Chris McGee of TWCSportNet:
At @lakers practice and @JClark5on looks great… Continues to impress… Quick, great jumper, very competitive..put back dunk was no joke
— Chris Geeter McGee (@geeter3) September 23, 2014
With a lot of questions surrounding the point guard position, Clarkson could play more minutes than expected next season. If Clarkson continues to impress while proving his worth during training camp and preseason, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
The rookie already has the advantage of playing well during the NBA Summer League and catching the eye of new head coach Byron Scott, but he’ll likely have to play behind Jeremy Lin and Steve Nash.
Fortunately, Scott believes Clarkson has the ability to be a combo guard potentially giving the rookie a chance to get some minutes at shooting guard. Kobe Bryant will be the starter with plenty of options to back him up like Nick Young, Xavier Henry, and Wayne Ellington, but Clarkson’s defense could set him apart.
Needless to say, Clarkson has gotten his Lakers career off to a good start and could earn his way into the rotations sooner rather than later.
[divide]Kobe Bryant’s Big Drop In Sports Illustrated’s 2014 NBA Player Rankings
Los Angeles Lakers(96) - Minnesota Timberwolves(103)