Instant Offense

In signing Jordan Clarkson, the Knicks addressed one weakness while amplifying another one.

Good morning! Before we get to the Clarkson signing, let’s do a quick roundup of the day’s other notable news…

• Mike Brown now appears to be firmly in the lead for New York’s head coaching job. He has a second interview scheduled, and various reports peg him as the frontrunner for the job.

• Russell Westbrook’s name was connected with the Knicks (among several other teams) throughout the day yesterday, but it’s unclear what New York’s level of interest is following the Clarkson signing.

• According to Michael Scotto, Phoenix Suns’ center Nick Richards “has drawn trade interest from several teams, including the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and Los Angeles Lakers.”

• Several rumored Knick targets went off the board for more than the taxpayer midlevel, including Luke Kennard (one year, $11 million with the Hawks, who also acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a sign and trade and now appear very formidable in a wide open East), Tyus Jones (one year, $7 million to the Magic, who have also had a really nice offseason) and several centers (Brook Lopez to the Clips, Clint Capela to Houston, Luke Kornet to San Antonio and Kevon Looney to New Orleans). Al Horford remains unsigned with the Knicks reportedly interested, but the reporting indicates that he is likely to end up in Golden State.

• Longtime dream target Jaren Jackson Jr agreed to a renegotiation and extension with Memphis for five years and $240 million.

• On the LeBron front, LA lost Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets on a four-year, $53 million deal. The Lakers do now have the full midlevel to make up for the loss.

• Maybe the biggest news of the day: the Nuggets swapped Michael Porter Jr and a 2032 unprotected first to the Nets for Cam Johnson. Denver also got Bruce Brown back on the minimum. Nice job by the Nugs to get right back in the mix.

• New York’s first round foe Detroit pivoted quickly from Malik Beasley and Dennis Schroder (who will sign with Sacramento) to Caris LeVert and potentially Malik Monk, who might be on his way to the Pistons in a Schroder sign and trade.

More news as it comes, but for now, let’s get to New York’s lone move of the day…

Instant Offense

Welcome to New York, Jordan Clarkson.

In true Leon Rose fashion, the first (and maybe the most significant) move of this free agency period is one no one saw coming.

Unlike previous transactions though, Rose can only take partial credit for this signing coming out of the blue because as of yesterday morning, Jordan Clarkson was still a member of the Utah Jazz. Then yesterday afternoon, Utah bought out the final season of Clarkson’s contract. Coming off their somewhat inexplicable trade sending Collin Sexton to Charlotte for Jusuf Nurkic, it seems fairly obvious that the Jazz will spend another year bringing up the rear in the West, except now they’ll give even more playing time will go to their youngsters.

As is so often the case in the NBA, one team’s loss is another’s gain, and on paper, this is a match made in heaven.