Jordan Clarkson is no longer part of the Utah Jazz's plans, as they want to rebuild, and he wants to play for a winner. Both sides got what they wanted this offseason when they parted ways, and that's the bottom line. However, following the latest intel on the New York Knicks and their interest in Malik Beasley, Jazz fans may laugh at how Clarkson went from a bad situation to a potentially worse one.
For context, after the ex-Jazzman Beasley was no longer being investigated for gambling, reports quickly came out that the Knicks have interest in adding him.
The Knicks touched base previously with Malik Beasley's camp and are viewed as a potential option for the 3-point marksman, a league source says. Beasley was recently cleared in a federal gambling investigation and is probably the top unrestricted free agent on the market. The…
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) August 23, 2025
If that happens, that could impact Clarkson's role on the team. Beasley isn't the same player as Clarkson, but at this stage of their respective careers, Beasley may be the more valued piece in their rotation as an elite movement shooter. He's a lot more consistent than Clarkson is, which would put him higher on the food chain than Clarkson would.
Because the Knicks may depend on him more, Clarkson may not get the role he thoughthe would when he signed with New York after clearing waivers. Clarkson has made it clear that he's excited to play for the Knicks, but adding Beasley into the mix may curb that excitement if it hurts his long-term prospects.
All of this can be for naught if Beasley re-signs with the Pistons or somewhere else, but if Beasley signs with the Knicks, it puts Clarkson in somewhat of a bind.
Clarkson has played with elite movement shooters in the past
While potentially adding Beasley to the Knicks' rotation would hurt Clarkson's chances for more minutes with them, he would be familiar with playing with an off-ball shooter in the rotation because he's played with several during his days with the Jazz.
Ironically, that includes his experience during Beasley's brief time in Utah. However, besides him, Clarkson also played with Joe Ingles, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Georges Niang, all of whom thrived on being the snipers that they were and played quite a big with Clarkson.
The former Jazz Sixth Man of the Year is and always has been a shoot-first player who hasn't depended on being a playmaker, but the Jazz have made it work with him and their wings who can space the floor. The Knicks could potentially make that work the same way the Jazz did, as it brought Utah success as the fans know.
However, this may not have been what Clarkson had in mind when New York signed him. Jazz fans alike should be rooting for him as he embraces this next chapter of his career, but it would be such a shame if a situation like this hurts his long-term career prospects.