Jordan Clarkson made it very clear that he believes Lauri Markkanen can step up for the Utah Jazz. He also made that clear ina hilarious and explicit way.
During Jazz Media Day, Clarkson was asked why he believes Markkanen will step up as "that guy" for the Jazz this season. Clarkson had a unique answer.
"I don't want to cuss, but that mother(expletive) was in the military. That is an honest answer. He's ready for whatever. Lauri's ready for anything you throw on his plate."
Markkanen served in the military for his native country, Finland, from April to September of 2023.
Clarkson has every right to say this about Markkanen because he has stepped up his game since coming to Utah. So much so that the Jazz just rewarded him with the most expensive contract of his career by far.
Not only did the Jazz give him a massive pay raise, but the two sides worked it out so that he couldn't get traded for at least a year. All in all, the Jazz have faith in Markkanen, and Clarkson is among his biggest supporters.
But will Clarkson be around for when Markkanen hits his prime?
In a way, Markkanen's and Clarkson's stories with the Jazz are pretty similar. Both had shown their talent in spurts but never quite figured out how to thrive in their NBA roles before coming to the Jazz. Then, once they landed in Utah, they found their footing, leading them to play some of the best basketball of their careers.
Unfortunately, the Jazz may seem in completely opposite lights. Markkanen could be a cornerstone fo their future while Clarkson may very well be on the way out.
There's an argument that Clarkson's only with the Jazz because teams have been penny-pinching now more than ever. If it wasn't for those darn tax aprons, Clarkson might very well be on a different team.
At 31 years old, Clarkson's services are better used on a team trying to win now instead of later. It's why there have been plenty of proposed trades sending him to teams vying for the playoffs. Even though they haven't fully embraced the rebuild, the Jazz appear to have no playoff aspirations as they enter the season.
Markkanen and Clarkson are great examples of how effective the Jazz are at developing talent. That by itself should make fans feel good about their rebuild. At the same time, it will be a shame if Clarkson isn't around for Markkanen and the Jazz's next era.