Los Angeles Lakers rookie Jordan Clarkson has developed beyond what most anyone expected in a shorter time than just about everyone imagined.
On the Lakers' most recent road trip, they managed two victories, and both wins came in overtime. In both contests, Clarkson stepped up with the game on the line and knocked down clutch free throws.
In the game against Minnesota, the rookie point guard's foul shots went down as game-winning free throws. In the win over Philadelphia, four late free throws helped send the game into overtime. In Philly, Clarkson would hit a floater with 0.7 on the clock for the game winner.
For a rookie to be coming up big late in games and leading his team to victory, fans should be jumping for joy at the talent that has shone through from an unlikely source. The fact that this 22-year-old earned his entry into the NBA as a second round draft pick should only add to the excitement over the Lakers' hot young prospect.
Sadly, though, Clarkson's game winning plays did not immediately generate joy. On the contrary, his game winner in Philadelphia let out a collective groan across Los Angeles. In the chase for ping pong balls, every loss helps the Lakers' chances in the NBA draft lottery.
This is Clarkson's catch-22.
To be clear, the player does not face any dilemma. He goes out to beat the competition and win every game. The catch-22 is for fans watching at home.
If Clarkson steps up big and hits a game winner or steps to the line and knocks down clutch free throws to tie a game, he is showing maturity and growth. That is worth applauding loudly. Watching a rookie step up late in a game, show confidence and succeed should be celebrated. In a year, or two or three, Clarkson's confidence and execution late in games should be a notable asset.
Yet, fans scream in anger at the potential loss of a draft pick.
For a moment, let us consider the alternative. If Clarkson had bricked his free throws in Minnesota and Philadelphia, lost the games and walked off those courts with his confidence shattered, would fans trust the rookie in big moments a year from now? Would fans who obsess over the Lakers winning titles want or trust a player who did not show a desire to win games? Do fans really want Clarkson to accept and grow accustomed to losing?
After Steve Nash did not survive preseason, Julius Randle broke his leg, Jeremy Lin got off to a less than stellar start and Kobe Bryant overburdened himself with scoring, fans grew obsessed with securing a top-five draft pick. If the Lakers do not end up with a top-five pick after the NBA's draft lottery, they would give up rights to their first round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers, who acquired the pick via the Phoenix Suns. The Suns originally got the Lakers' pick as part of the Nash trade.
The Clarkson catch-22 is complex. Fans have to hope that the rookie can perform in winning time and do more than simply collect statistics on a bad team, but at the same time, watching the rookie win games hurts the Lakers' draft standing. Cheer for the rookie to play well and win games or root for him to fail and lose?
Of course, Clarkson is not to blame, and frankly, neither are the Lakers. If the Lakers are in development mode, how can they justify not playing their rookie point guard with the game on the line? Stepping up to the line on the road and hitting high-pressured foul shots with the game hanging in the balance is exactly the type of situation the team would like to see Clarkson thrive under. Fans cannot help but hope the kid succeeds in that moment, too. However, the moment the ball goes "swish," reality sets in. The surprising speedy development of Clarkson is exactly what fans hoped for, but his accelerated development is exactly what may end up costing the Lakers their highly coveted draft pick.
If the rookie keeps winning games, the Lakers may miss out on their top 2015 draft pick altogether, so the 2014/15 season of losing will feel like a complete waste of time. Then again, the 46th pick in the 2014 draft will probably look better than most any draft pick in the 2015 draft at the start of next season.
At the moment, Clarkson already looks better than the vast majority of the players picked ahead of him, and the 22-year-old is making a strong argument for 2014 NBA All-Rookie first team. And that is a good thing, right?
