NBA Free Agency: Jordan Clarkson signs 4-year, $50 million contract with the Lakers

It was always seen as a foregone conclusion that Jordan Clarkson would re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, and it happened way sooner than most expected. Clarkson and the Lakers came to an agreement on a  four-year, $50 million deal on the first night of free agency, according to Shams Charania of the Vertical.

Clarkson was a restricted free agent, meaning that even had he signed elsewhere the Lakers would have been given the opportunity to match the contract. However, it seems the two sides had no desire for things to play out that way and came to a quick agreement within the first four hours of free agency opening.

The former second-round pick actually took a substantial discount to return to Los Angeles, as another team (like the reportedly interested Philadelphia 76ers) could have offered him "a max of $57.8 million over four years or $34.1 million over three years" with the Lakers able to offer "a four-year contract up to $88.9 million," according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.

It seems Clarkson's talk of being willing to sacrifice to remain a part of the Lakers' young core was genuine, and this is great news for the team. With his contract signed, Clarkson will in all likelihood suit up for the Lakers' Las Vegas Summer League team for the third year in a row.

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