This may not have been how the Utah Jazz wanted things to end with Jordan Clarkson, but at least it's over, and both sides can focus on the future. Clarkson has been bought out, and it's been confirmed he will join the New York Knicks once he clears waivers. Why this works out pretty well in the end for Utah is that Clarkson gave back a fair amount of the money they owed him.
Jake Fischer confirmed that Clarkson gave back around $3.6 million to Utah after the team bought out the remainder of his contract.
Jordan Clarkson gave back roughly $3.6 million in his Utah buyout, sources say, about the same veteran's minimum amount the veteran guard is expected to earn when he signs with New York upon clearing waivers.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) July 1, 2025
While he is expected to make that money back when he officially signs with the Knicks, this works out for the Jazz because it saves them a substantial amount of money during a time where the NBA emphasizes cap flexibility. It may not be the grnadest gesture, but it's still a noticeable one nonetheless.
Particularly in Clarkson's case because there's no way to know for sure if he will ever get another contract like that. Even if the former Sixth Man of the Year wasted a few more years of his prime with a Jazz team that didn't need him, he likely was quite grateful that Utah gave him another sizable payday when it wasn't a given that he would get a deal like that somewhere else.
Players sometimes refuse buyouts and would rather play the whole season because they don't want to give back money or, at the very least, don't want to be in a position where they don't make more money or are handed less. For that, it would have made sense if Clarkson had held out to earn some additional money from the buyout if he had wanted to.
So it is noble on his end that he gave some of that money back, as he's entered the stage of his career where getting paid eight figures might be out of the question for him. Regardless of what anyone thinks of Clarkson's time with the Jazz, it's clear there was a mutual respect between the two sides from beginning to end.
It also shows the desire to part ways was certainly mutual
Clarkson discussed his preference for playing for a winning team during his exit press conference (Disclaimer: he also made it clear that he would have loved for that to be in Utah). Honestly, that desire is more than understandable, given that he is in his early 30s. That probably also factored into why he was willing to give money back.
The now ex-Jazzman probably understood that when he agreed to that extension with the Jazz, he didn't have much of a choice regarding what would come later on. With Utah getting younger, and the team adding more and more young guards, the writing was on the wall that Clarkson was yesterday's news and he knew it.
Luckily, now he gets to start a new chapter on a team that could benefit greatly from his services like the Knicks. When Clarkson makes his return to Utah, there's no reason not to think Jazz fans will cheer and clap to see a player who embraced every bit of Utah like him when he takes the floor.