Jordan Clarkson, the tattooed veteran guard, intends to sign with the Knicks as a low-cost scoring option off the bench, multiple sources told The Post.
Clarkson was a late entry into the market after agreeing Monday to a buyout with the Jazz, forfeiting some of his $14.3 million salary to hit free agency and move to the NBA’s biggest market.
Clarkson can finalize a deal after clearing waivers Wednesday.
A source close to Clarkson said he’ll sign with the Knicks on a veteran’s minimum deal, saving New York its midlevel exception by going that route. A source said the Knicks plan on targeting a frontcourt player in free agency.
Veteran center Al Horford, a recent champion with the Celtics, remains on the block for a presumed reasonable price.
At 33, Clarkson’s best basketball is in the rearview but only three seasons ago averaged 20.8 points on a respectable 44.4% shooting. He was also the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2021 with the Jazz.
Jordan Clarkson is expected to sign with the Knicks. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Clarkson is a gunner who can score in bunches but is considered a weak defender. He creates his own shots in a way the other Knicks reserves cannot.
Last season, however, was a disappointment for Clarkson, who shot just 40.8% as the Jazz fell to the bottom of the standings. His value fell. Hence, the buyout.
Clarkson is represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports, the agency with a turbulent history with the CAA-affiliated Knicks. As The Post reported, Paul and Rose had a sitdown in early 2024 to hash out their differences. They obviously had to work together to finalize a Clarkson deal. A source said Paul reached out to the Knicks first about Clarkson.
While Clarkson was snagged Monday evening, several other low-cost free agents who were linked to the Knicks – Luke Kennard (Hawks), Tyus Jones (Magic), Bruce Brown (Nuggets), among others – signed elsewhere.
Russell Westbrook was also rumored as a Knicks target, but a source said he’s unlikely to sign with no clear path to playing time.
The expensive Knicks, with Karl-Anthony Towns as the top earner next season at over $53 million, are well over the luxury-tax line and limited in what they could spend in free agency. There’s also not much opportunity for playing time with at least 10 players under contract and a top-7 rotation fairly established.
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Clarkson will join a Knicks bench that’ll include Miles McBride and either Mitchell Robinson or Josh Hart, depending on who the next coach will start. New York’s starters logged more minutes last season than any five-man group in the NBA, but the organization has emphasized expanding the rotation and developing younger players so the bench will carry greater significance.
The Knicks finished the draft and started free agency without a coach, having surprisingly fired Tom Thibodeau after he helped the franchise to its first conference finals in 25 years. They are getting closer to hiring his replacement.
Jordan Clarkson provides the Knicks with a scoring option off the bench. Getty Images
As The Post reported, the Knicks invited Mike Brown for a second round of interviews – the first candidate to receive such an invitation. In his last full season as a head coach in Sacramento, Brown had nine players average at least 15 minutes. He also coached the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year that season in Malik Monk.
Clarkson was the Sixth Man two years prior. And he’ll come off the bench again in New York.