Jordan Clarkson will be a restricted free agent in July, and he said at the end of the regular season that he wants to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. That was before the Lakers replaced coach Byron Scott with Luke Walton, though.
In an interview with ESPN's Jovan Buha, Clarkson said that the coaching change "makes it even better" to stay in Los Angeles, and he's excited about playing for Walton:
“It really impacts it a lot,” Clarkson told ESPN.com on Friday in a phone interview when asked about how the hiring affects his free-agency decision. “That style of play fits me, as well as the other guys. I definitely want to stay here in L.A. and be here. I said in my exit interview, I don’t want to be that guy who bounces around from team to team.
“I want to be here in L.A. -- a place where I can call home -- and leave a legacy. The hiring makes it even better.”
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“It’s just an understanding,” Clarkson, 23, said. “He’s played the game, and he’s been out here in L.A. I feel like he’ll just be able to relate to us on different levels and make us all closer and want to compete.
“I think everybody's really excited to have a young coach and a guy who believes in us. Just that style of play. It’s just an exciting time. We text all the time. I talk to Julius [Randle] a lot, D'Angelo [Russell], Larry [Nance Jr.] is back at the facility working out right now.
“It’s just cool to feel that vibe of energy.”
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“I’m really excited about him being the new head coach and really seeing how things are put together,” Clarkson said of Walton. “I want to be in L.A. and be a part of this whole process. I think it’s an exciting time for Laker Nation.”
Clarkson couldn't be more clear, could he? This is an early sign that the charisma the Golden State Warriors have talked about will carry over for Walton in Los Angeles. He obviously has a lot to prove as a full-time head coach, but it's notable that Clarkson already seems to be buying in.
About Clarkson's free agency: It's a bit complicated. He was a second-round pick in 2014, and he made $845,000 this season despite being a starter. The Lakers can match any offer for him, and unless he takes a discount for some reason, it makes sense for them to let him sign an offer sheet elsewhere. If he goes for the longest deal he can get, he'll make $58 million over four years because he is subject to the Gilbert Arenas provision. That would be a nice deal for Los Angeles, especially if Walton's coaching staff can help Clarkson improve as a defender.
In related news, Lakers forward Julius Randle called Walton a "perfect fit" and said that "it's great to have a coach to believe in you," via the Los Angeles Daily News' Mark Medina. For the first time in a while, there's reason for optimism in Los Angeles.
