Los Angeles Lakers: Top 3 trade candidates before 2018 deadline

Jordan Clarkson, PG

Jordan Clarkson’s story is a great one, and one that many Lakers fans love to root for. Unfortunately, depending on how things play out in the coming months, he may not be a part of this Los Angeles roster much longer.

The reason is simple. Considering what he brings to the table, Clarkson is making too much money. People tend to focus on Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng as the previous regime’s big blunders, but it’s often overlooked that they overpaid for Clarkson as well. The former second round pick and backup point guard simply shouldn’t be making $12.5 million per year.

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That bloated figure could be an issue for the Lakers’ and their well-documented plan to spend big next offseason.

Now moving on from Clarkson would undoubtedly be painful. Although not as sensational as some fans would lead you to believe, he’s more than capable of contributing off the bench. He figures to be the top backup guard this offseason, providing support for both Lonzo Ball and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

In the end, though, what matters more to the Lakers? Keeping a slightly overpaid backup guard, or making space to acquire a couple of superstars via free agency? If you ask me, the answer is clear as day.

Trade Clarkson to a guard-needy team willing to package together an expiring contract and some draft compensation. For the Lakers, it’s a short-term loss for a long-term gain.