NBA: Ranking The Best Shooting Guards for 2016-17

9. Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are now D’Angele Russell and Jordan Clarkson’s team. And he still has so much potential left in him. The former second-round draft pick from Missouri burst onto the scene as a second-year player last year and did so with Kobe Bryant‘s retirement tour headlining every single Lakers game. With the arrival of D’Angelo Russell, Clarkson was able to return to his natural position of shooting guard, and it worked out quite well.

Clarkson wasn’t hesitant in his new role, and even made improvements from the three-point line which made up for his overall percentage decline–it wasn’t much, though. He retained his crisp handle and changes speeds very well, a major key for him getting to the basket. When he gets to the cup, though, he’s not as automatic as you’d like, but his touch from below the free throw line is enhanced, and he can resort to that.

His perimeter on-ball defense is also respectable, and he holds opponents to 39.1 percent shooting on shots greater than 15 feet, according to NBA.com. Unfortunately, he gives up some size, giving him a disadvantage around the basket.

Next: Khris Middleton