Lakers Trade Rumors: Jordan Clarkson offered to Pistons for Avery Bradley

The NBA trade deadline is just over a week away, which means rumor season is going to the moon. The Los Angeles Lakers — as always — will definitely be one of the teams making headlines as the Feb. 8 buzzer draws nearer, and it sounds like Jordan Clarkson is the name to keep an eye on in the immediate.

The Detroit Pistons have made Avery Bradley and his $8.8 million expiring contract available, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, and the Lakers have thrown their hat into the mix. A deal centered around Clarkson has been pitched to the Pistons, reports Vincent Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.

Clarkson’s season is heating back up after a cold December, with the reserve guard picking up the slack for a backcourt that’s been injured and/or unavailable in recent weeks. Jordan is averaging 24 points, 5.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds and one steal over the last five games, four of which were Lakers victories.

The motivation for the Lakers to make a move on a deal like this would be to clear the remaining $25.9 million on Clarkson’s contract following the conclusion of the 2017-18 season, creating additional cap space heading into free agency.

A one-for-one swap works, but from this distance, it looks like the kind of discussion that remains in the exploratory phases. The Pistons’ are looking for a “significant” return for Bradley, according to Wojnarowski, as Detroit hopes for a solid return before he hits unrestricted free agency.

Here’s what Bradley had to say his name being involved in trade rumors:

The deadline may be close, but there’s still plenty of time to continue working the markets as every front office prepares for the annual whirlwind of chaos.