NBA Trade Rumors: 3 players Suns can trade for after missing Kyrie Irving
By Karan Jain
2. Jordan Clarkson is the bench scorer the Suns need
Jordan Clarkson has been one of the shining lights in the Jazz’ surprise season. The former Sixth Man of the Year is now starting and is averaging a career-high 21 points per game as the Jazz have remained in the postseason picture against all odds. While Clarkson’s 21 points per game have come on a reasonable 56.8 true shooting percentage including 35 percent from 3, these numbers don’t quite do his shot-making ability justice.
Partly due to some poor shot selection but largely thanks to not having the best offensive context around him, Clarkson has had a relatively poor shot diet, ranking in only the fourth percentile for the shot quality metric on Basketball Index. Hence, Clarkson is ranked in the 93rd percentile for perimeter shot-making on BBI.
Another aspect of Clarkson’s game that will help the Suns just as much is his driving. This season, Clarkson has been one of six players to attempt 15 or more drives and make over 50 percent on those drives. His penetration will directly address a Suns’ weakness as the team has ranked in the bottom-four in free throw rate in each of the last three seasons and also rank in the bottom-six for drives per game this season.
The Jazz have not been able to agree to an extension with the 30-year-old guard who can become a free agent this offseason and the Suns should look at pounce on this opportunity.