Jazz Utah have agreed a three-year, $55 million contract extension with Jordan Clarkson, including next season, until the end of the 2025-26 season, Shams Charania reported.
After Clarkson opted to execute the $14.3 million player option for the 2023-24 season, a long-term contract was expected. The 31-year-old veteran has had a good run with the Jazz over the years, averaging 17.8 points in four seasons and was named Sixth Man of the Year in 2020-21.
Last season, Clarkson played the best season of his career, playing in 61 games, starting all of them, averaging 20.8 points and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from three-point range. It was also his first regular starter at the Jazz.
Last offseason, the Jazz made a major roster change, trading Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, expecting the Jazz to enter a rebuild completely, but had a surprising performance in the 2022-23 season. Laurie Markkanen was named the most improved player last season, rookie Kessler showed star potential, and Clarkson, who entered the starting lineup, played the best performance of his career so far, which is an important reason why the Jazz did not fall to the bottom of the West, and even maintained a little competitiveness, eventually achieving a 37-45 record.
This shows again that what the Jazz need to do is build on that rather than rebuild across the board. The team acquired power forward John Collins in a previous trade with the Hawks and is ready to make the playoffs next season with Collins, Clarkson, Markkanen and Colin Sexton as its core team.
Clarkson, who had a great time with Utah Jazz, told reporters in April: "It's been fantastic. From my first day here, it was an eye-opener, simply because I didn't know much about the city and the team. My family and I had a wonderful time here, a place we can definitely call home. My brother lives here now and my parents love to come and stay here for a while. It's fantastic. ”
Do you think Clarkson and Jazz's contract extension is worth it, and how the Jazz will perform next season, welcome to comment.