The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking for help in any form and that needs to happen within a week’s time as the trade deadline looms. One of the potential trades that the Cavs are reportedly exploring is a deal to acquire the L.A. Lakers’ Jordan Clarkson.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavs are looking to add Clarkson to a lineup that is sorely needing an upgrade at the guard spot. This was reported by USA Today’s Ron Turenne in the LeBron Wire.
“ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported the Cavs interest in Clarkson last week and his colleague Adrian Wojnarowski echoed that report in an appearance during the Wednesday’s Knicks-Celtics game on ESPN.”
Isaiah Thomas is still trying to get his feet under him after coming off a long layoff due to an injury. This season, Thomas is scoring 15.6 points per game, but shooting an atrocious 38.6% from the field. Thomas is just one of the guards struggling with their shot. Moreover, his defense has been one of the worst in the league, and has cost the Cavs games on that end. Oh, and we haven’t even talked about J.R. Smith.
Meanwhile, Clarkson has been on fire the past week. In his last five games, Clarkson is averaging 21.4 points on 50% shooting from the field and 92.6% from the stripe. That includes a 29-point, 10-assist, 6-rebound game against the New York Knicks on January 21.
While he isn’t a great defender himself, Clarkson has been instrumental in the Lakers’ strong performance recently. They have won eight of their last 13 games as the Missouri product has been playing more minutes with rookie Lonzo Ball out with an injury.
From the report, the Lakers are hoping to move some of their young players, including Clarkson and Julius Randle, to make a run at LeBron James and another max player in the summer of 2018.