NBA News: Jordan Clarkson Staying With Jazz, Derrick Favors Returns

KEY POINTS

Jordan Clarkson gets a big raise and is staying with Jazz
Derrick Favors returns to Utah after one season in New Orleans
Jazz could work on new deals for Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert

Jordan Clarkson is not going anywhere and will continue to play for the Utah Jazz. The Filipino-American cager has agreed to a four-year deal worth $52 million to stay with the franchise, his agent says.

Agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports told ESPN that the 28-year-old has come to terms with the Jazz. Clarkson is coming off an impressive season with the Utah Jazz, acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers for Dante Exum and two future second-round picks, NBA.com reported.

Clarkson was set to become an unrestricted free agent with several teams expected to pursue him. He was due for a big pay raise moving forward, and the Jazz was willing to grant him that with the new deal.

Free agent Jordan Clarkson has agreed to a four-year, $52M deal with the Utah Jazz, his agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 21, 2020

Despite the change in scenery, Clarkson was able to mesh well with the Jazz. He played a total of 42 games with the Jazz last season, averaging 15.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.7 minutes of action. These were improved numbers compared to his prior stint with the Cavs in the same season.

By securing Clarkson, the Jazz has made sure that its bench scoring is secure for the next couple of years. As for the team’s success, it depends on how Utah can secure new deals for key players like Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.

Mitchell is in the final year of his deal with the Jazz and is set to make $5.1 million in the coming season. He will become a restricted free agent next offseason but will be due to a big pay raise. Multiple teams are likely to try and pry him away from the Jazz.

Gobert, meanwhile, is also in the final year of his deal. He will be making $25.7 million this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent after the 2020-21 wars.

The Jazz made it to the NBA playoffs but was eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Utah is showing progress but needs to assemble the right core to improve on their recent NBA postseason run.

Aside from Clarkson, the Jazz also welcomed back Derrick Favors to the fold after offering him a three-year deal worth $30 million, ESPN reported. That deal includes a player option in the final year.

Favors wrapped up a one-year stint with the New Orleans Pelicans where he did not quite shine. His return should make up for the exit of Ed Davis and Tony Bradley, who were both traded to the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons, respectively, for draft picks.