2:03pm: The team would likely waive Xavier Henry to accommodate Clark, tweets Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. That suggests that the Lakers aren’t in line to receive a 16th roster spot. Clark’s contract with the Lakers would be guaranteed, according to Bresnahan. Henry, who has a fully guaranteed salary worth $1.082MM, is expected to miss the season with a torn Achilles tendon.
11:49am: The Lakers and Clark are close to agreement on a one-year contract that would be for a pro-rated portion of the veteran’s minimum, reports Baxter Holmes of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
9:08am: The sides are working toward what would be a one-year deal, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
9:03am: The Lakers and Earl Clark have engaged in a “level of dialogue” about a possible deal, reports Shams Charania of RealGM. The five-year veteran’s name wasn’t among the several who were linked to the club last week, but the Lakers know him well, since he enjoyed a career year in purple-and-gold during the 2012/13 season.
Clark is averaging 28.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in 35.8 minutes per game across four appearances so far for the Rockets D-League affiliate this season. Houston briefly had him on its NBA roster after claiming his training camp deal off waivers from the Grizzlies, but the Rockets waived him before opening night. The Rockets reportedly have interest in Al Harrington, another forward whose game is somewhat similar, but there have been no reports indication that Houston is thinking about bringing Clark back to the big club.
The 26-year-old put up 5.3 PPG and 2.8 RPG in 12.5 MPG for Memphis during the preseason, failing to stick even though the Grizzlies began the regular season with an open roster spot. Clark’s career has hit the skids ever since he signed a two-year, $8.5MM deal with the Cavs in 2013, a pact that he and agent Kevin Bradbury were able to land in large measure because of the performance Clark delivered for the Lakers. He averaged 11.6 PPG and 9.2 RPG with 37.8% three-point shooting during a 22-game hot streak in the middle of his year with L.A., but he failed to match that production for Cleveland, which shipped him to the Sixers at the deadline last season. Philadelphia promptly waived him, and apart from a pair of 10-day contracts with the Knicks, Clark hasn’t appeared on a regular season roster since.
The Lakers recently received a nearly $4.851MM Disabled Player Exception for Steve Nash to go with the Disabled Player Exception worth almost $1.499MM that they have for Julius Randle, but it seems unlikely that it would take more than the minimum salary to sign Clark. The team has a full 15-man roster, though the Lakers have enough injured players to qualify for a 16th roster spot if they were to apply for one and the league were to grant it. Ronnie Price and Wayne Ellington, who have partially guaranteed deals for the minimum, are the only two Lakers without fully guaranteed contracts.
Why would we need a garbage like Clark? He was waived from the Cavs, then from the 76-ers, then from the Knicks and has not played single game this season. He has average of 4.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg.The Lakers can get the third Injured Players Exception of $ 1.2 mil. for Henry and combined with Nash’s $ 4.8 mil. and Randle’s $ 1.5 mil, that is $ 7.5 mil.With that kind of money, we can take a lot better player(s). Earl Clark is done for the NBA ever since he left the Lakers.
That’s the genius of the laker management at work. I’m beginning to think they are hell bent on self destruction. First Nash then Howard then Pau Not pursuing Monroe or Kyle or any good players. Holding on to pipe dreams like Melo lebron KD Begging Howard to stay. Don’t forget D’Antoni. I say Kupchak for executive of the year
mitch use to have help from west .. not any more.. if he gets luck he will look good though
U R absolutely right my friend. Even though TWC has rewarded the Lakers with 2.5 billion dollars over the next 20 years, the ownership is taking totally different approach for the future. They are going to hold every 1-st round pic from now on and try to get as many, as possible via trades. Once we have a solid core of 6-7 talented rookies, then they will try to pursue one or two All-Star caliber players to complete the team.
Right now we have 4 – Randle, Kelly, Clarkson and Ellington. Plus J.Hill, Ed Davis and Swaggy P, who I am sure will be around for the next few years. Adding 2 more first round pic next summer may be good enough. Then, in 2016, we can go after K.Durant and someone else from that caliber and you have a championship team.
you cant combine exceptions dumbass
It’s worth noting that you can’t combine disabled player exceptions into one big chunk to sign a player. The Lakers can only use them one at a time to acquire different players. (Also, a DPE for Henry would only be $541K.)
–Chuck
You need a garbage player like Earl Clark so your pick doesn’t get sent to Phoenix this coming summer.
I see !!!
First off Earl Clark is better, longer, and a smarter basketball player than Xavier Henry. Second they cannot combine the player exceptions together so no they cannot give a player 7.5 million. Third the Lakers are in a tough spot until next year anyway, as long as all of the players (including Kobe) buy in on the defensive end. They score enough points, that is not the problem. The problem is stopping the other team.
I like this deal lakers should of never let him sign with the cavs. It not like he will play much but he nice depth at sf and pf
Andrie Kirlinki is going to be released by Nets that would a great defensive pickup by Lakers
clark is younger and cheeper + were not going anywere this season
Yep. In order to retain our 1-st round pic this summer, we may need someone like E.Clark. It’s too bad that all of the Lakers fans have to suffer another disappointing season, but it looks like this is the only way to get back to where we belong.
I’m probably beating a dead horse…because I have stated this before…but, I really believe the Laker brain trust is blowing a chance to make a solid move, right now…let me explain my logic…The Lakers have Nash’s expiring contract of 9.7 mil, a 4.75 mil injury exception for Nash and a 1.5 mil injury exception for Randle…that’s a total of 15.75 mil…not to mention, at least another 18.5 mil in expiring contracts…It would behoove the Lakers to use some of those resources to make a trade now for at least one or two of the pieces that they hope to have a chance for in free agency…two come readily to my mind…Greg Monroe, 5.5 mil…why not try and acquire him with the expiring contracts of Carlos Boozer, 3.25 mil, Xavier Henry, 1 mil and the 1.5 mil injury exception; then see if Phoenix, who has a glut of point guards, will part with Goran Dragic, 7.5 mil and his brother, Zoran, 1.75 mil, for Nash’s 9.7 mil expiring contract? They immediately upgrade the team, with the players that they are targeting…it then is just a matter of resigning them in the off-season…in addition…they set themselves up for a playoff run…but, more importantly, following next season, when the Mamba retires, they have a team that free agents, such as Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan, Harrison Barnes, etc…will consider joining….just my thoughts…
Interesting thoughts, though the Lakers would be unable to package the Disabled Player Exception in a trade for Monroe. They can only use each of their Disabled Player Exceptions to acquire one player on an expiring contract who makes no more than $100K greater than the value of his exception.
–Chuck
isnt it salary or in this case 4.85mx1.25 so that would be 6.06m the lakers could take in for the nash DPE?
Nope. Just the value of the DPE plus $100K.
–Chuck
Those are good ideas PapaDawa, but the NBA prohibits combining injury exception money. I think they should just package boozer, Nash, and Xavier henry for point guard ronda ( celtics) or bliedsoe ( suns). Let me explain myself why, boozer can’t help the lakers, the boozer that we saw in his jazz years are gone, unless he losses some weight. Nash is done with injures and Xavier just suffered a achilles injury. The lakers need a point guard that can control the tempo of the game and control the flow the ball, no Kobe Bryant. The lakers need a strong mental point guard that can hell at Kobe B., D. Fish did that to K. Bryant all the time, as a result 5 rings with the only laker that has been with him since he got into lakers when he was 18year old. Basketball Operations in the lakers organization is another argument.
Thanks for that info…I didn’t know the limitations of the injury exceptions…I still stand by my theory though…they do have expiring contracts and players that could be used..the point is…acquire the players now, as opposed to bidding later…
Last I looked the Lakers also have a $2,789,920 trade exception that expire sin February.
That’s gone now. They renounced it when they opened up cap room this summer.
–Chuck
As I replied earlier…I didn’t know about those rule concerning injury exception money…My main point, is to do something to get a piece or two now to help make coming to the Lakers a viable option…as the Lakers stand now with this putrid roster, no free agent is going to come there to lose steadily…I would personally prefer Dragic to Rondo, because of age, and .Rondo’s having suffered some major injuries…but…just get some solid pieces to build a team that will compete…by the way, .Boozer has been garbage for a long time…he is undersized to play the power forward and he is a liability on defense…my heart didn’t skip any beats, when the Lakers brought him in…lol…I hear ya…take care…back away from that turkey, tomorrow, dude…lol….
Ok. U trust in Mitch 100%. People who are blaming him for not doing anything need to take 15 mins out of their life and read summary of the CBA [Collective Bargaining Agreement]. Its the rule book of how trades should happen, injury exceptions and stuffs. Lakers cant trade Boozer as they claimed him from Amnesty waivers. They cant waive Nash and Xavier and get the retirement or injury exception as the league knows that they are injured prior to their waiving. That was one of the major reason why they had to keep Ellington instead of Roscoe Smith when he suffered concussion. If we deal nash and nash announces medical retirement, the other team will still have Nash’s salary on their books as he was already injured when they dealt for him. Those are very complex rules and one needs to know that a team cant simply be oversmart and deal players like poker chips.
Also we have to understand that Lakers is not the only team in NBA and nor it has any vested interest by Adam Silver. To think that we will get Rondo or Dragic for injured Nash or Xavier, or may be Monroe for them would be blasphemy. Other teams would want minimum of 2 1st round draft picks for either Dragic or Rondo. Sadly we dont have them.
We do have many contracts which are unguaranteed for next season and some players who are on expiring contracts. Many teams will know if they are in race for playoffs or not till all star break. They will thus become sellers if they want to tank or buyers if they want to contend. Also after 15 dec players signed in free agency and draft picks will be eligible to trade. just wait till then.
Kupchak is one of the shrewdest of GMs we have in NBA. We got D12 basically for Bynum[who hasnt played] and some scrap players and 1 draft pick, which translates to 1draft pick+ some scrappy player to get one of the best centers in league. Have faith in him. I am anticipating if Lakers can flip Jordan Hill+Nash for bigger but not so productive player like Hibbert or Asik or Ibaka or maybe Love, we can have a team ready for 2015. Also 76ers might want to deal with one of the centers to target Karls Town or Okafor. We might get Embiid or Noel if we pitch a great offer.
So just chill. Earl Clark isnt one who can put Lakers in contender. But he can be one of those small contracts utility player who other team might find interesting. Its nothing but a game of chess or monopoly. We are getting assets now to strike big from Dec to Feb trade window.
Here is how I see the things:
Trade Nash’s contract, R.Price and W.Johnson (total of $ 13.150 mil.) to OKC for PG Reggie Jackson and sign him immediately to 4 years $ 13.0 mil. starting contract.
Sign FA Earl Clark for the league’s minimum for the remaining of the season.
PG: R.Jackson (W.Ellington)
SG: K.Bryant (J.Clarkson)
SF: E.Clark ( Nick Young)
PF: Ed Davis (R.Kelly)
C: J.Hill (R.Sacre)
This team will finish with one of the 3 worst records and will keep our first round pic, which otherwise is going to Phoenix. Then, we will have another 1-st round pic this summer from J.Lin’s trade. All we need to do in the off-season is to get UFA PF LaMarcus Aldridge and we will have very solid team for 2015-16 season. That team will go deep into the playoffs and with another acquisition in 2016 ( say K.Durant ) we are going to have a championship caliber team for many years to come.
PG: R.Jackson (pic from Houston) W.Ellington
SG: N.Young ( J.Clarkson )
SF: K.Durant ( pic 1-5 – Lakers) FA
PF: L.Aldridge (J.Randle) R.Kelly
C: J. Hill ( Ed Davis ) FA