Utah bought out Clarkson on Monday
UPDATE (9:45 p.m. ET): According to NBA insiders Stefan Bondy and Chris Hayes, the Knicks have reached and agreement with former Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson and he’ll sign with New York, once he clears waivers, for the veterans’ minimum salary. More to come…
Assuming he clears waivers and deal is finalized, the Knicks would be getting Jordan Clarkson for the vet’s minimum, a source told The Post.
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) July 1, 2025
On Monday, the Utah Jazz started the process of buying out veteran shooting guard Jordan Clarkson.
If this news has piqued your interest, we get it. The Flame Thrower (see Basketball-Reference) could provide an electric scoring spark for the New York Knicks’ second unit. In fact, Ian Begley reported that New York will be at the top of Clarkson’s list once he clears waivers–and the interest is mutual.
Knicks are at the top of Jordan Clarkson’s list once he clears waivers, league source says. Knicks currently see Clarkson as a priority signing, as @StevePopper said. New York has the $5M tax payer exception and veteran’s minimum exceptions available to offer Clarskon, who agreed…
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 30, 2025
Why would the Jazz move on from such a talent? Timing is a factor. The Jazz are shifting fully into a rebuild, prioritizing younger players. A 33-year-old vet like Clarkson no longer fits that timeline. He was the last real holdover from the Donovan Mitchell–Rudy Gobert era, and while he is still a bucket and has a good locker room reputation, his impact had slipped. Injuries didn’t help, either. He played just 37 games last season due to plantar fasciitis, and his efficiency has been trending in the wrong direction.
Utah did try to trade him, but according to reports, no one bit. Teams weren’t eager to pick up an aging guard whose best days might be behind him. With few options on the table and a crop of young guards (Isaiah Collier, Keyonte George, Walter Clayton Jr.) vying for minutes, a buyout made the most sense for both sides.
The Knicks have access to the $5.7 million Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception for the 2025-26 season. They are over the first apron but still about $8-10 million under the second, which limits their flexibility. That means their options are basically the taxpayer MLE and minimum deals. They can use the exception on one player or split it up, but either way, it’s not a big number, and it makes efficient spending all the more important.
I’ll save you the Googling: the list of good players available in the $5.7M range is not long.
Thus, it makes sense that the Knicks would be interested in Clarkson. A former Sixth Man of the Year, Clarkson put up 16.2 points per game last season and shot 36.2% from deep. He’s a proven scorer who can create his own shot—something the Knicks have lacked at times behind Jalen Brunson.
He does exude a certain JR Smith vibe, though, capable of sinking a thrilling buzzer beater one night and a bonehead blunder the next. As for his defense, leave your expectations on the bench: he would be another guard the Knicks will have to hide. He ranked in just the 16th percentile in Defensive EPM last season. And for all the raving about his shooting ability, he’s not the most efficient scorer. Last season, even in a solid year from deep, he only shot 36% from three, and his overall field goal percentage has consistently been below league average.
He’s lost some burst, too. Rim pressure has dropped off, and last season he had his fewest attempts at the rim in three years. Add in the fact that he’s a volume scorer with questionable shot selection, and when he’s not hitting, he can really stink up the joint.
The Knicks’ offense came apart in the playoffs, and it wasn’t just one thing—it was a mix of stagnation, sloppy execution, and poor decisions. The ball stopped moving. Possessions turned into isolation-heavy, hero-ball sets that lacked rhythm or cohesion. That was on full display in the Game 2 loss to Detroit, where the offense looked selfish and undisciplined.
They didn’t share the ball—just 15 assists in some of those key games—and they couldn’t take care of it either. Against Indiana in the Conference Finals, they turned it over 15+ times in five of six games. In Game Six alone, they gave up 34 points off turnovers while scoring just 13 that way themselves.
Their shooting efficiency cratered. The playoff offensive rating dropped more than 10 points from the regular season. They hit only 33% from three and struggled to finish at the rim and on floaters. And when defenses got physical—pushing them off their spots, blowing up actions—the Knicks didn’t adjust. It became one-on-one basketball, and they got out-executed when it mattered most.
Clarkson is comfortable creating his own shot and commanding the troops. New York’s bench would have benefited from those talents and extra floor spacing against the high-flying Pacers. To get over the hump and into the Finals, they’ll need more juice from somewhere.
This list of options may be short, but not completely unpromising. Cole Anthony is being bought out by the Grizzlies. He was part of the trade that sent Desmond Bane to Orlando in mid-June, but Memphis never planned to keep him long-term. They’re working with his reps to finalize the buyout, which will free him up to sign with any team. Last season in Orlando, Anthony averaged 9.4 points, three rebounds, and three assists over 67 games. He’s a better defender than Clarkson, younger, and has comparable shooting percentages. For the record, there’s been no indication (that I’m aware of) that OAKAAK Greg Anthony’s kid is willing to play for $5.7M. Either player would be preferable to Russell Westbrook. Marc Stein mentioned in his latest report that New York is on the list of possible landing spots for Russ. No, thanks.
What would the addition of Clarkson mean to the other, younger Knicks guards on the bench? Good question. Mile McBride is under contract for the next two years and, although as inconsistent as Clarkson can be on offense, he is a superior defender. Sophomore Tyler Kolek will be looking to earn more minutes this season, and while he is decidedly not the superior defender (or shooter), he is the better playmaker. Would the next coach (Mike Brown? Taylor Jenkins?) rather play the veteran Clarkson, or give the young guys more reps?
If the reports are true, a Clarkson-to-New-York announcement will likely come this week. Clarkson would help solidify the second unit and offer a veteran presence who’s comfortable in big moments. With the team looking to make a deeper playoff run, adding a guy like Clarkson—especially on a value deal after his buyout—could be a low-risk move with real upside. In the right role, he can still help a team. But if his scoring is no longer elite and injuries are becoming an issue, his flaws—especially on defense—start to outweigh the positives.
Go Knicks.