Reports: Jazz, Jordan Clarkson near buyout deal

Jordan Clarkson and the Utah Jazz are nearing a buyout agreement that would make the volume-scoring reserve guard an unrestricted free agent, ESPN reported Monday hours before free agency officially began.

The NBA's 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year averaged 16.2 points and 3.7 assists per game last season, his sixth with the Jazz.

ESPN reported Clarkson is only interested in playing for playoff contenders after making the postseason only four times (43 games) in his 11-year career. That includes the 2018 NBA Finals with Cleveland, when he was on the wrong end of a sweep at the hands of the Golden State Warriors on a roster that featured LeBron James and Kevin Love.

James, who opted into the 2025-26 season on his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Clarkson remain on good terms.

Clarkson, drafted by the Wizards and traded to the Lakers in 2014, has eight seasons with a scoring average of 15.5 points per game or above, including all six seasons in Utah.

In 753 career games with the Lakers, Cavaliers and Jazz, Clarkson has averaged 16 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. He has drilled 1,402 3-pointers in 4,169 attempts (33.6 percent). He ranks 32nd among active NBA players in 3-pointers.

--Field Level Media