As the Utah Jazz season rolls on, one major contributor from last year has been watching from the sidelines recently. Jordan Clarkson travels with the team and roots on his younger teammates but is unable to help stop the flow of losses the Jazz are enduring this season.
Jordan Clarkson last played for the Utah Jazz over two weeks ago. He played three minutes in his last game on Jan. 4 against the Miami Heat before exiting with the injury. An MRI shortly after confirmed the injury, and the trade talk about him has mostly settled down since then, though occasional trade ideas involving Chicago come up.
At the time of the MRI, it was reported that Clarkson would miss around two weeks of action. However, last night marked two weeks since that report, and nothing has been reported about a return to action; Clarkson was listed as 'OUT' for tonight's game at the New Orleans Pelicans, not 'day to day' or any other status.
With the NBA trade deadline rapidly approaching, Clarkson needs to play to re-establish his value as a trade piece. Unless the Jazz have already resigned to the fate of this injury as bad timing?
There's limited time left for the Jazz to showcase Clarkson
If teams want proof that Clarkson's plantar fascitis has healed, before making a deal, he needs to be on the court over the next 8 games.
The next Jazz game is Wednesday night in Oklahoma City against the league-leading Thunder (35-7) which will be followed by another road game on Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
If he misses both of those, a home date against Milwaukee next Monday, the 27th, would probably be one of the last target dates for other NBA teams to evaluate Clarkson before the trade deadline.
With no news about his current status, it's hard to say what will happen. If the Jazz and Danny Ainge are willing to take back expiring contracts or second-round draft compensation, a Clarkson deal could be done very quickly, which would keep the 25 minutes a night that he often receives available for the younger guys like Collier, George, and Sensabaugh.
Will Jordan Clarkson be moved by the trade deadline? It's hard to say. With teams like Minnesota, Orlando, and the Lakers dealing with backcourt issues, the market is there for him to be on the move.
And with the Jazz wanting the young guys to play more, there's motivation for Danny Ainge to make a deal. We will know soon.