It’s time for the Utah Jazz to move on from Jordan Clarkson
Twice. That’s it. That’s the number of times that the Utah Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson has broken 40% shooting from the floor this season. That’s all. He’s had twice as many five+ turnover games so far than he’s had good shooting nights. And yet he still gets minutes.
It’s hard to say what Will Hardy is doing, but it’s fair to say that it isn’t working. Clarkson is being given every chance in the world and for what? It’s not like he’s just-out-of-his prime Kobe Bryant. Clarkson doesn’t have the body of work historically for him to be given so much slack. Clarkson is shooting with impunity and we’re not sure why.
And listen, poor shooting spells happen. It happens to everyone, but this isn’t about the missed shots. Clarkson is someone who doesn’t do much of anything but hit shots, and so if he’s missing shots, he’s giving the Utah Jazz absolutely nothing.
It’s beyond fair to say that the Jazz are getting just that, nothing, from Clarkson. If Clarkson isn’t hitting his shot, there is nothing else he can provide to a team when it comes to winning basketball. He doesn’t play defense, he can’t pass and he certainly isn’t going to get in the paint and try and out-rebound bigs on the opposing team.
His turnovers are hurting the team almost as much as his poor shooting. He’s not good at leading an offense, yet Hardy keeps playing him in that role. It’s baffling, and we’re out of reasons to assume why he keeps getting that opportunity time and time again.
The Jazz need to make a decision sooner rather than later to move on from Clarkson. Right now he’s not playing well, but someone may still see what he did last year, and not what he’s doing this year, and take a chance on him.
You don’t want to sit on this too long, as you never know if things are just going to get worse. And it’s very possible things get worse.