By JONAS TERRADO
Jordan Clarkson was noncommittal about his future with the Utah Jazz despite relishing the experience of being a spark off the bench since arriving in Salt Lake City last December.
Clarkson’s four-year contract worth $50 million will expire after the season but the Fil-American guard will try to explore the possibilities before deciding on where to play next season.
“It was definitely a great experience being here with the team, coming in December, me just finding my place here,” Clarkson said as quoted by the Salt Lake City Tribune. “For me, I can’t tell the future or anything like that, but whatever happens, happens.
“It’s a business. I know I had a great experience here, great time here, I love my teammates here, so definitely see what happens and, you know, it’s kind of my first time actually going into a free agency, so definitely a whole new experience for me,” he added.
He joined the Jazz after being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Dante Exum and two future draft picks.
The 28-year-old averaged 15.6 points on 46 percent shooting with 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 42 games. Clarkson also shot 36 percent from three-point range.
Utah went 26-16 with Clarkson to finish sixth in the Western Conference with a 44-28 record, drawing praises from coach Quin Snyder and Jazz star Donovan Mitchell.
Clarkson was among the outstanding performers for the Jazz during their first round playoff series with the Denver Nuggets, averaging 16.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
The Jazz, however, blew a 3-1 series lead when the Nuggets came back to win the final three games.
