One of the worst-kept secrets about the Utah Jazz is that they'd like to part ways with Jordan Clarkson, but he has remained with the team despite all the whispers. Because there haven't been any indications that his situation with Utah will change from now until his contract expires, it has demonstrated a harsh reality that doesn't get harped on enough.
Even though intel has come out regarding how playing for the Jazz has hurt Clarkson's psyche, the former Sixth Man of the Year has been a good sport about sticking with the team. It is even more impressive on his part, as it has become glaringly obvious they are turning to their younger guards and away from him by proxy, i.e., benching him even when he's healthy.
Clarkson has not requested a trade away, nor has he been a nuisance in the locker room—far from it, in fact—but he did make it clear during his exit press conference that his preference is to play meaningful basketball while he's still in his prime. That won't be in the cards for him as long as he stays in Utah, and he's committed to staying there until the end of next season.
This is where the harsh reality sets in. When Clarkson agreed to an extension with the Jazz in 2023, one year after they essentially started over, he agreed to basically put his future in Utah's hands for three more years from the day he signed, come what may, which has led to this unfortunate situation for both sides two years later.
By agreeing to the extension, he removed the option of choosing his own destiny, in which he could have spent the rest of his prime playing on a team that needed him. Now, there's no telling if Clarkson would have gotten the money the Jazz gave him elsewhere, so good for him for getting another bag while he still could, but it has come at the cost of potentially wasting what's left of his prime on a team that doesn't need him.
Again, Clarkson deserves props for taking all this in stride when no one would blame him if he made a fuss. If anything, it shows that he's aware that this is the path he chose and there's not much he can do about it besides wait it out until the Jazz either trade him or his contract runs out.
At least it should be over soon
Clarkson's contract will expire next season, which gives him more trade value due to the cap flexibility he could provide for a team that wants it. Either he'll be traded before next season, traded before the trade deadline, waived after the trade deadline, or his contract will expire.
There's no telling when his exit date will be, but when it comes, Clarkson will leave Utah with no bad taste in either side's mouth while he gets to embark on the next chapter of his career and they get to invest more in their youth.
Even if this won't the most optimal way for the Clarkson era to end in Utah, the most optimistic way to look at this situation is that the finish line is within eyesight.