Jordan Clarkson had a rough season in Utah this year. As a member of the Jazz, big things were expected from the shooting guard, who had career lows across the board in many of the most important aspects of the game. He went from a potential Top 100 player, and a potential Top 10 shooting guard, to a guy who will likely need to be traded with a draft pick just to move on from his contract.
Now, Clarkson could be traded as part of a bigger package to land a bigger name, but Clarkson isn't being traded for draft picks, at least not any that will make the Utah Jazz better. In a lot of ways, Clarkson's time as a top-tier player may be over, but he sure doesn't see it that way.
Speaking to the media during his end-of-the-year press conference (via Sports Illustrated), Clarkson revealed his goals and while they're lofty, no one faults him at all;
""I mean, it would be nice to win another Sixth Man of the Year. But, yeah. Hopefully win a championship and compete for something. All of those things are in the back of my mind as something I do want to achieve. Those two things sound really good, because I know I'll be winning if we're doing that.""
Clarkson may not be a Sixth Man of the Year contender anymore, and the only way he wins a title on a true contender (as we know them to be in April of 2024) is a buyout where he signs for cheap on a new team.
That said, we want to be wrong. We'd love Clarkson to return to form with the Utah Jazz for the 2024-2025 season, helping the team not just get to the playoffs but beyond. As a player, he struggled, but he is a player we absolutely adore as a person. From all the things he's said and done in Salt Lake City, it's hard not to like him. We don't know him personally but he's the kind of player we want in Salt Lake, someone who wants to be here and wants to succeed here.
It may be needed to move on from him but that doesn't mean it won't be sad if and when he does end up leaving the Jazz. We just hope he can achieve a title before he hangs up his shoes.