Over the final weeks of the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers will work on developing their young talent for the future. When Kobe Bryant retires and players like Roy Hibbert head to free agency, the Lakers will move forward with D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson. While Russell and Randle have been getting most of the attention lately, Clarkson admits that he is fine with staying out of the spotlight.
In recent weeks, Russell has been the talk of the Lakers. The point guard was the No. 2 overall draft pick this season, and he has finally started playing like it. While Russell appears to be a star in the making, Clarkson is certainly doing his part to keep the Lakers afloat, but with fewer eyes on him. Clarkson admits that he is fine with Russell getting all of the attention as the two players split the backcourt.
"I like to be in the shadows," Clarkson said. "I kind of just like to go about my business, just come out here, improve and stay out of the way. I'm fine with my role. I'm just trying to help us win games. I'm not about flashy stuff."
Clarkson might not be about the flashy stuff, but his stats say otherwise. The second-year point guard has been thriving on the court lately. The 23-year-old is coming off a game where he put up 25 points against the Golden State Warriors, including going 4-for-6 from three-point range. That is going to set him up for a nice payday come the summer. Clarkson will be a restricted free agent and can sign an offer sheet worth four years and $58 million. Will the Lakers match it?
The Lakers will be in a tough spot this summer. The team clearly likes Russell as the point guard of the future, so where does that leave Clarkson? The two have been working well together as starters, and their development over the remaining games could go a long way in determining if Clarkson stays put. Head coach Byron Scott has said that he envisions Clarkson and Russell dominating the backcourt for many seasons, but in order to do so, the Lakers will have to be willing to shell out some money.
"I don't think early in the season they knew how to play with each other," Scott said. "They both were trying to find their way and neither one was deferring to one another. They both were just trying to figure it out. Now they're figuring it out and having some success."
Clarkson has done enough to earn the spotlight alongside Russell. If the Lakers are unwilling to give him the money he has earned, plenty of other teams will. The media might not be focused on the point guard, but Scott certainly is. He sees the potential that Clarkson can offer the Lakers for years to come. However, money will be the deciding factor in whether that comes true.
