Los Angeles Lakers: Reuniting With Earl Clark

The Los Angeles Lakers have injuries again?! What do YOU think?

More season-ending ailments hamper Byron Scott’s squad. The season just can’t flow without the storied franchise taking a blow to their roster, this time claiming what was once one of their prized developments.

Steve Nash (back) and Juilus Randle (broken right leg) will be joined on the sidelines by Xavier Henry who went down on Monday with what seems to be a torn Achilles tendon. Henry has spent much of this season looking to get back in shape from surgeries on his wrist and knee.

These same issues limited him to only 43 games last year. To compound Henry’s absence, power forward Ryan Kelly is scheduled to miss a month due to a torn hamstring.

Found in the clouds of injury is the silver lining of “exceptions.” Not only were the Lakers awarded an estimated $1.5 million disabled player exception for Julius Randle, but the NBA also approved a $4.85 million exception for Steve Nash. This cash can come in handy if the Lakers look to waive players like Ronnie Price, Wayne Ellington, or the aforementioned Henry. Another option is pursuing an NBA hardship waiver, as Los Angeles Times reporter Mike Breshnahan discussed:

"“The Lakers could also wait for the NBA to grant a hardship waiver, which would temporarily allow them to increase their roster size to 16 players.The hardship waiver isn’t expected to be granted until this weekend or next week. It stipulates that a team must have four players sidelined at the same time with substantial injuries.”"

Reports are surfacing that the Lakers may take the plan of the hardship or waiving of Henry into consideration to bring back a familiar face. The team has discussed terms of a deal and looking to likely sign forward Earl Clark.

As many may remember, Clark burst onto the scene after coming over with Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic trade. Former Lakers Head Coach, Mike D’Antoni played Clark in 59 games, where he averaged 7.3 points per game (career-high).

Clark has been somewhat of an NBA journeyman, playing for the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and brief stints with the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies. Since leaving the Lakers for the Cavaliers, he has not been able to replicate the same energy on both ends of the floor that earned him significant minutes in Los Angeles.

Whether he is shooting from long range, or playing the opposing team’s best player, Clark can provide the Lakers some much-needed skills. At 6’10″, he can play both forward spots and bolster their depth a little more.

At just 26 years of age, Clark is the kind of low-risk, high reward player that the Lakers need. His familiarity with the franchise could prove to be good for the team and his confidence. Quite like his first rodeo in Los Angeles, the team needs him to spark them, nothing major. Sometimes a player can be overwhelmed in a new role and unknown situation. Coming back to Los Angeles could mean the resurrection of Clark’s career and a possible building block for their foundation.

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