The Jazz are looking to trade Jordan Clarkson, but having difficulty finding takers, says Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake City Tribune (via Twitter).
Larsen says that there is “next to no interest” in Clarkson on the trade market after two slightly down seasons from his best years in Utah, which have seen his scoring numbers decline and his shooting efficiency wax and wane. Clarkson played a career-low 37 games this season after having his year cut short due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Prior to that, he was averaging 16.2 points and 3.7 assists in 26 minutes per night, primarily off the bench.
Larsen adds that the Jazz extended Clarkson in 2023 with the hopes that they could move him later, but the market they expected to be there for him appears to have moved on.
After trading the productive Collin Sexton to the Hornets for Jusuf Nurkic, Utah’s effort to open up rotation minutes for their young players while positioning themselves for the 2026 draft seems clear.
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Larsen also confirms (via Twitter) that the Jazz are actively attempting to move combo forward/center John Collins this summer, saying that he considers it unlikely that either Collins or Clarkson are on the roster going into next season. Collins averaged 19 points and 8.2 rebounds this season while shooting 39.9% from three, but according to Larsen, his presence blocks minutes for Taylor Hendricks and Kyle Filipowski.
After signing a three-year contract with the Timberwo lves, Julius Randle remains trade-eligible, writes The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski (via Twitter). According to Yossi Gozlan of the Third Apron, the criteria for Randle’s eligibility are that the deal not exceed four years, the first-year salary isn’t at least 120% of the previous deal, and the raises or declines don’t exceed 5%. Krawczynski adds that the Wolves are not planning on moving Randle, but this deal allows them the flexibility to do so if the opportunity presents itself.
The Thunder didn’t change their draft strategy or identity after winning the championship, writes Rylan Stiles of Sports Illustrated. “Every draft that we have is an opportunity to reflect back on the others and figure out what we can do better,” Prest said. “But the one thing we’ve never really strayed from, and I don’t think we will, is the focus on drafting people and not players. I think the characteristics of winning players, they multiply at a greater level than just talented players. They scale up better.” After selecting Thomas Sorber and Brooks Barnhizer in the 2025 draft, the Thunder took care of their previous draftees, signingJaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell to three-year extensions.