Report: Los Angeles Lakers To Sign Earl Clark

Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers have been decimated by injuries already this season. Within a matter of weeks, they have lost Steve Nash, Xavier Henry, and Julius Randle to season-ending injuries. Ryan Kelly is also expected to miss up to six weeks with a torn hamstring and Nick Young, who led the team in scoring last season, only recently returned to the lineup after tearing a ligament in his thumb in the preseason. As a result, the Lakers have turned to a familiar face who is currently in the D-League in the hope of finding some additional firepower.

According to Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Earl Clark is in the process of signing a one-year contract with the Lakers. Clark was the 14th pick in the 2009 draft by the Phoenix Suns, and he has played in 251 NBA games over the course of his career. He spent the 2012-2013 season with the Lakers and posted career-highs of 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He then split time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks in 2013-2014 before joining the Houston Rockets’ D-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, this offseason.

In four games with the Vipers this season, Clark is averaging 28.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 2.0 assists. He’s currently third in the D-League in scoring (trailing only Brady Heslip and Manny Harris) and second in blocks.

Clark has operated as a stretch four in Nevada Smith’s up-and-down system, with the bulk of his offense coming from pick-and-pops with Gary Talton, a pass-first point guard who is leading the D-League in assists per game. Because of his ability to stretch the floor, defenders have been quick to close out on him. Clark has taken advantage of that by taking them off the dribble, knocking down midrange shots (38.1 percent shooting) and attacking the basket (62.5 percent shooting at the rim).

For Clark, he’ll have to become a more consistent perimeter shooter to make a big impact with the Lakers. Other than his hot shooting night against the Bakersfield Jam on November 18th, when he knocked down six threes en-route to a game-high 36 points, he’s just 5-for-25 from the three-point line in a Vipers uniform. It hasn’t necessarily impacted his game negatively thus far — defenders have still closed out on him now matter how well or poorly he’s shooting — but he won’t draw as much respect in the NBA.

As is the case for most perimeter players who have played for Nevada Smith over the last two years, Clark has greatly benefited from playing in the Vipers’ wide-spread offense. He won’t have nearly the same amount of space in the NBA, though, which will take some adjusting. To add to that, very little of the Lakers’ offense comes from the perimeter. Just four teams are taking less threes per game than the Lakers and only the Kings are making less on a game-to-game basis.

On defense, Clark has the length (7-foot-2 wingpspan) and foot speed to defend multiple positions. His 13 blocks this season are a testament to his instincts and hard work on that end of the court. However, he’s not strong enough to prevent post players from bullying their way to the basket, which could hurt the Lakers even more if they use him primarily as a stretch four.

Clark is certainly one of the best scorers in the D-League. He’s someone who can score in a variety of ways, be it from the knocking down perimeter shots, pulling up off the dribble, or using his length in the post to shoot over opposing players. What helps his cause is that he’s familiar in NBA circles, too. He has played five seasons in the NBA and showed flashes of potential during that time. While inconsistency has plagued him in the pasr, especially when it came to his ability to space the floor, he’s hoping that a brief stint will help him follow in the footsteps of James Johnson.