Jordan Clarkson Reportedly to Get Contract Buyout from Jazz, Seeks Playoff Team in FA

The Utah Jazz and guard Jordan Clarkson are finalizing a contract buyout agreement, per ESPN's Shams Charania, and the 11-year veteran is looking to sign in free agency with a playoff-contending team at his next stop.

The 33-year-old Clarkson averaged 16.2 points on 40.8 percent shooting (36.2 percent from three), 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 26.0 minutes per game last season.

Clarkson was set to be paid $14.3 million in the last season of his contract.

Clarkson was limited to just 37 games (nine starts) last season as he dealt with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He underwent a successful procedure in March to address the problem. Plantar fasciitis had been an issue for Clarkson all season, and he was in-and-out of the lineup for large swaths of time.

One can guess that injury may have played a factor in his career-low 40.8 percent field-goal percentage. He did shoot 36.2 percent from three, but his 44.8 percent rate on two-pointers was also a career-low mark.

At his best, Clarkson is a pure scorer and a fantastic offensive weapon off the bench. He was the Sixth Man of the Year for the Jazz in 2020-21, averaging 18.4 points per game. Clarkson was a huge asset for a Jazz team that finished with the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs before falling in the second round to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Two years later, Clarkson entered the Jazz starting lineup and averaged a career-high 20.8 points per game, shooting 44.4 percent from the field.

His shooting and scoring marks have been on decline since that 2022-23 season, but a healthy Clarkson, who has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Jazz over his career, could certainly help a contending team off the bench.

It's clear that the veteran may not be a great fit on a rebuilding Jazz team that just went an NBA-worst 17-65, so a parting of the ways ultimately makes sense to let him seek better opportunities elsewhere.