IT’S OVER. The Truth About Jordan Clarkson & Why Tyler Kolek is the Future 🗽
IT’S OVER. Jordan Clarkson is officially out of the New York Knicks rotation. See why Tyler Kolek and this 5-game win streak changed the NBA trade deadline for NYK. 🗽
The Knicks are choosing identity over names. We’re breaking down the James Edwards buyout reports, Tyler Kolek’s emergence, and why Leon Rose is looking at Jose Alvarado and Yves Missi instead of stars.
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24 Comments
Should the Knicks buy out Jordan Clarkson or keep him as emergency depth for the playoffs? 👇🗽
Just Getting Rest For the Playoffs
Welllllllll Its up to Jordan Clarkson. If he's happy and staying ready. A guy you can throw him the ball to get a bucket is valuable….. maybe not as much a defensive stop! But important.
NOISE
JC staying
KEEP JORDAN CLARKSON!
Jordan is one of the guys that plays with an edge
If u think u can win the NBA Champion without a flame scorer at the bench, then that's the Knicks loss.
I feel you bro Jc 😢
JC dont stay at Knicks. Ask for trade or buyout. The coach is very bad, This team has no future in the playoff. Check game with the Lakers, the Lakers are playing their second unit more now to prepare them in the playoff since the Lakers are secured in the top 8 in the West. This Lakers -Knicks game is free flowing no too much defense to avoid injuries.
Keep him
Come playoff time, it may be nice to have an instant bucket come off the bench…
I think it depends on whether or not he's willing to accept a diminished role. It's a long season and injuries happen.
Let Clarkson go where he deserves to be—on a team and with a coach who trust him. He is a talented, caliber player, and that other coach from the Knicks won’t be a champion without Clarkson. I don’t think they will get the championship cup. Clarkson scores and carries the team until they take the lead. Without Clarkson, I think they will not win. I hope Clarkson gets traded so that he can make the most of the remaining season he has before retirement.
Keep him..He should get 5 -7 min a game when possible to stay warmed up for the playoffs
My most Hated coach today…Fu**in' Old man boastful MB.
The RETURN of NYK G Landry Shamet had more to do with Clarksons DNP, than Tyler Kolek. Shamet has a better ALL AROUND game than Clarkson.
Why why why in NY, commentators always have to pick one player to do the so call magic? !! Todays ball , teams including the Knicks need an arsenal of players. Kolkek is good and has proven to be an asset to the team. Clarkson will be needed during the playoffs. His playoff experience will be very useful. In 2026 when starters sit the bench can be just as powerful as the staters. Lastly the team will not fall apart if one of the main scorer gets hurt some one down the bench can pick up the slack! Give it to Brunson or give it cat and all will be well those days are over!! Plus it is garbage !! Team ball is the move. Also the staters remain healthy instead of being bombarded /mauled by the opposing teams defense……swing the ball is the move….
One thing has never changed throughout the decades in an ever changing pro basketball landscape…DEFENSE wins Rings. That’s the bottom line. Everything else is just noise. Look no further than Michael Jordan being all NBA defense first team nine years in a row… period end of discussion
This is why I proposed the following as a trade for the Knicks to move on from Jordan Clarkson, since Clarkson has fallen out of the rotation. Jordan Clarkson is a bottom 10 defender in the NBA, and that is simply not sustainable on a team with championship contending aspirations that already has two career net negative defenders in the starting lineup, with Kat and Jalen Brunson.
THE TRADE:
Knicks Send: Jordan Clarkson + 2nd Round Pick
Pelicans Send: Karlo Matković
"Who is Karlo Matkovic?"
In a word, athletic Hartenstein in the mold of Nikola Jokic, Ivica Zubac, Goga Bitazde.
The top 5 NBA rotation players in Rim Shot Quality this season:
1. Karlo Matkovic
2. Jaxson Hayes
3. Robert Williams III
4. Isaiah Hartenstein
5. Jay Huff
He is literally a guaranteed bucket. He ranks in the 100th Percentile in Rim Shot Quality.
The Pedigree: He is an alum of KK Mega Basket—the exact same "Big Man Factory" that produced Nikola Jokić, Ivica Zubac, and Goga Bitadze. He studied under the same developmental system that builds high-IQ, skilled Euro bigs. He literally has the same agent, Misko Raznatovic, as Nikola Jokic. Misko Raznatovic is the Serbian super-agent who discovered Jokic to begin with.
The Skillset: He is a 7-footer shooting 44.2% on 1.1 attempts per game in limited minutes, verifying his "Stretch 5" potential.
The Motor: He runs the floor like a gazelle (4.74 speed equivalent), 90th percentile speed for a center. He was the EuroCup Blocks Leader before coming over.
WHY NOLA SAYS YES: Their injury report. Dejounte Murray is OUT with a ruptured Achilles. Jose Alvarado is on the trade block. They have literally zero ball-handling guards left. They are desperate for a "bucket getter" to keep the offense afloat. Clarkson is washed for us, but for them? He's a perfect 15 PPG plug-and-play replacement for the guard minutes they just lost. : The trade logic hinges on the Pelicans' desperation. New Orleans has a massive vacuum at the guard spot that Clarkson fills immediately.
WHY NYK SAYS YES: We don't need a "Name" center. We need a real stretch 5 who fill the "Sabonis" role Mike Brown sorely craves–the finesse, high IQ, Euro-big who can act as a hub and also space the floor: Karlo Matković.
THE VISION: Imagine a bench unit with Tyler Kolek and Karlo Matković. Kolek driving… Karlo popping to the arc (pulling the opposing center out of the paint)… or Karlo rolling to the rim with elite speed. It opens up the entire floor. No more clogged paints. No more slow-footed centers. Imagine Kat and Karlo lineups. Two Karls!
the Salary Math & History Breakdown proving why this asset is a financial cheat code for the Knicks.
💰 THE "HINKIE DEAL" MATH
The Contract: Signed in July 2024 using the Second Round Exception.
The Structure: 3 Years / ~$5.4 Million Total.
Year 1 (2024-25): ~$1.4M (Guaranteed).
Year 2 (2025-26 – CURRENT): ~$1.83M – $1.96M (Guaranteed).
Year 3 (2026-27): ~$2.3M (Team Option).
The "Cheat Code" (RFA Status):
Because the deal is 3 years (not 2), the Knicks will hold his Full Bird Rights when he hits free agency in 2027.
He becomes a Restricted Free Agent (RFA), meaning the Knicks can match any offer.
THE "DRAFT AND STASH" TIMELINE
Drafted: 2022 (2nd Round, 52nd Pick) by New Orleans.
The Stash (2022-2024): He stayed in Europe to develop at the "Big Man Factory" (Cedevita Olimpija / KK Mega Basket) instead of rotting on an NBA bench.
The Arrival: He came over in Feb 2024 to play for the G-League Squadron, then signed his real NBA deal in July 2024.
The Status: He is technically a "Sophomore" by contract but has the professional experience of a 4-year vet due to his European tenure.
🎯 WHY THE MATH WORKS FOR NYK
($3.6M vs $1.96M)
Knicks Outgoing: Jordan Clarkson ($3.6M)
Knicks Incoming: Karlo Matković ($1.96M)
The Delta: -$1.64 Million (Savings)
Why this is perfect for the "Hard Cap" Knicks:
Legal Under Second Apron: Since we are sending out more money ($3.6M) than we are taking back ($1.96M), this is 100% legal for a hard-capped team. We are allowed to shed salary.
The Savings: This creates an additional $1.64 Million in breathing room below the Hard Cap.
Previous Room: ~$148,000.
New Room: ~$1.78 Million.
The Benefit: This opens up enough space to sign a Buyout Player in March or convert a two-way contract. It unlocks the roster.
Why NOLA does it:
They are acquiring a "20 PPG Scorer" (on his resume) for only $3.6 Million and acquiring a 2nd round pick in the process.. That is a bargain for bench scoring production to replace the injured Dejounte Murray/departing Jose Alvarado.
The salary match works easily within standard trade rules (175% + $100k matching for non-apron teams allowed them to absorb the slight increase, or they use a small TPE).
Trade 1: Yabusele ($5.8M) for Terry ($5.4M) = Neutral/Slight Savings.
Trade 2: Clarkson ($3.6M) for Matković ($1.96M) = Massive Savings ($1.6M).
Jordan Clarkson should not worry about NY Knicks, instead, realize that a whole Nation: Philippines & Gilas Pilipinas believes in You!
I would keep him bc the more weapons you have for the playoffs the better for the team. Clarkson however needs to step up defensively in order to get back on the court barring any injuries.
Clarkson can score at will. Not sure what happened between him and the Coach. I am really interested in what everyone thinks of bringing Booker to the Knicks? I would trade Mikal and Deuce but may not be enough. I believe the Knicks need one more upgrade
Keep clarkson,kolek,shamet and Mitch on the bench,now we got a bench we didn't have ever.