Heading into NBA free agency, the New York Knicks still don’t know who their head coach will be. Mike Brown has become a legitimate candidate for the job and has had a second interview with the team, but there are still a lot of questions left to be answered.
Despite not having a head coach, the Knicks need to make some moves.
After losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, it became clear that New York needs more quality depth. A new report has suggested that the team has found a quality piece to add to its puzzle.
Jordan Clarkson agreed to a contract buyout with the Utah Jazz to become a free agent. Now, he’s expected to sign with the Knicks when he clears waivers.
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According to a report from ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, that is the expectation between Clarkson and New York.
“Jordan Clarkson is expected to sign with the New York Knicks after he clears free agency waivers, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote on X.
Clarkson will be an excellent bench addition for the Knicks. He’s known for being a lethal three-point shooter and scorer when he’s on, although he can be streaky.
In recent years under former head coach Tom Thibodeau, New York has been known to lean very heavily on its starting lineup. The bench has not been a key for the Knicks. That seems likely to change under new leadership.
Adding a player like Clarkson will help with adding a scoring punch in the second unit.
During the 2024-25 NBA season with the Jazz, Clarkson appeared in 37 games and made nine starts. He averaged 16.2 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game.
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Back in the 2023-24 season, he played in 55 games and made 19 starts. In that campaign, he averaged 17.1 points per game to go along with five assists and 3.4 rebounds.
While a deal cannot be agreed to until he clears waivers, this is a move that will happen. New York is getting a quality scorer to lead the second unit. It could end up being a major steal, although the financial side of the deal has not been revealed yet.
Expect to see the Knicks remain active this offseason. Clarkson is a good start, but another piece or two seems likely to be added.
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