Jordan Clarkson agrees to four-year deal to stay with Lakers
The Lakers remained active in the free-agency period, keeping point guard Jordan Clarkson by agreeing to a four-year, $50-million deal early Friday morning.
The Lakers like the career arc of the second-round pick from the 2014 draft, privately touting his potential and work ethic.
Team officials planned to keep the restricted free agent even if he signed an offer sheet with another team, at which point the Lakers would have matched it. Clarkson made $845,000 last season.
A person familiar with his thinking called the deal “great news.”
Clarkson averaged 15.5 points, four rebounds and 2.4 assists in his second NBA season. As a rookie out of Missouri, he averaged 11.9 points and 3.5 assists and became a Lakers’ starter near the midpoint of the season.
Clarkson turned 24 last month. He was the 46th pick in 2014.
The Lakers also agreed to terms with free-agent center Timofey Mozgov on a four-year, $64-million contract.
Mozgov has averaged 6.9 points and five rebounds in six NBA seasons. He turns 30 next week.
The Lakers have about $30 million left to spend toward next season’s payroll.
They were highly interested in small forward Nicolas Batum but he agreed to stay with Charlotte for a reported $120 million over five years.
Twitter: @Mike_Bresnahan
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UPDATES:
8:17 a.m.: This article has been updated with staff reporting.
This article was originally published at 6:42 a.m.
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