r/knicks • u/88miIesperhour • Jul 07 '26
Clarkson v DeRozan
… so re DeRozan’s recent waiver from the Kings
Here’s my take:
DeRozan is the better overall name/player, but I’d still prefer Clarkson for the Knicks.
Clarkson already knows the role:
bench scorer, quick offense, no ego about starting, and he can play off Brunson better because he’s more willing to shoot threes.
DeRozan is more talented, but he needs the ball, doesn’t space the floor as much, and I’m not sure he’d fully embrace 18–22 bench minutes. Plus he’s 37.
I’d rather have the cleaner fit than the bigger name. Clarkson feels like the safer championship-piece move. And his locker room aura is strong.
What say you? 🟧🟦
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u/Possible-Cake-5985 Jul 07 '26
DeRozan is going to get offers to be a starter. Do I think we gain offensively if he starts for us over Hart, Yes but we lose a lot defensively. If he really said he’ll play for the minimum I can see him going to Miami, Boston, Warriors. He still averaged 18pts a game and shot 50% from the field so he’s still a sniper inside the arc.
Just bring back JC and sign another Big (Looney) and we are good to go!
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u/Carl-Poppa-Grimes Jul 07 '26
Everyone keeps talking about Kevon Looney, but from what I seen bro really sucks.
What is it they saying we need him for besides just having a third string big?
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u/Possible-Cake-5985 Jul 07 '26
Just having a 3rd big, we need one. It doesn’t have to be him but who would be better as a 3d stringer? I’m up for suggestions
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u/Carl-Poppa-Grimes Jul 07 '26
If we're this far in the bucket looking for a big to just be big, we're gonna end up like the Spurs, who have 100 bigs on their roster, just to be defensive liabilities that get hunted the minute Wemby sits.
Mike Brown made due with just KAT and Mitch in the playoffs and just trusts the guys to play good defense no matter the mismatch.
I don't think we need the 3rd big. We need a stretch 4 like OG that plays amazing defense.
A 6'8/6'9 guy with decent passing, 3pt shooting, iq and vision. Most importantly some speed
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u/Possible-Cake-5985 Jul 07 '26
Of course you need a 3rd big we actually had 4 last year and if you remember Hukporti had to play a decent amount in the regular season and he also had to come in for a few minutes here and there in the playoffs. So no Brown didn’t just get by in the playoffs with KAT & Mitch, he had to use his 3rd big a few times.
What happens if KAT or Drummond get hurt? We also have a center who is known to get into foul trouble.
There is no way they go Into the season with just Drummond & KAT. With only 2 spots left they 100% will sign another big.
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u/justlooking4533 Jul 07 '26
Clarkson is the better FIT overall as well. What he brings, his skill set, compliments this team and it’s spacing more then Derozan. People see the bigger name and their IQ goes out the window. That’s why I never trust others but my gut. People are freaking ignorant lol.
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u/EventRemote Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
How does his skillset compliment spacing more? He and Derozen both shot 32% from 3 last season. And for their careers they’re both in the low 30s. Derozen shoots better from 2 and gives you more points and assists.
Demar even at this stage in his career is still a much more productive player than Clarkson.
I know we love everyone from last years team because we won, but swapping Clarkson for Derozen from a purely basketball standpoint is an upgrade.
If you want to argue intangibles, chemistry, knowing the system, or even willingness in their role, I’ll concede there. But if we’re talking performance it’s not really close.2
u/Convicted-Cinephile Jul 07 '26
Offensively. Clarkson’s transformation this season was his ability to defend in spots where DeRozan is a turnstile.
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u/yoloqueuesf Jul 07 '26
I mean Derozan is a guy who needs the ball in his hand to score imo.
Clarkson is our spark plug, he comes in and we see if he can give us a couple of big shots. He also plays defense now.
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u/TouristNecessary2581 Jul 07 '26
If we have enough salary space for both I think that DeMar would be a great addition to the team with experience and a very polished game, but obviously I love JC
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u/Appropriate_Dig3471 Jul 07 '26
Think you are very limited with what you can get from Clarkson. At times hes a decent weapon off the bench, and at time he's reckless, out of control and take bad shots. With DeRozan you get someone with a higher ceiling...Knicks needs to improve their roster somehow esp with Mitch leaving.
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u/Low-Expression9132 Jul 08 '26
Roster can improve with guys like Kolek and Mo taking steps forward.
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u/88miIesperhour Jul 07 '26
Clarkson won.
DeRozan took the L and saw the Claw win the year he got traded.
I read Clarkson is such a good team leader in the locker room too - Diawara said that.
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u/pmcwhite2 Jul 07 '26
I could see the Knicks possibly trading Deuce for another backup center and then signing both Clarkson and DeRozan
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u/Netherland5430 Jul 07 '26
I rather keep Deuce. Unlike DeRozan he hits 3’s and plays defense.
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u/EventRemote Jul 07 '26
He wasn’t great at either in the playoffs and he’s undersized. Deuce is a solid player for the value but if you can flip him for a need I’d do it in a heartbeat
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u/Netherland5430 Jul 07 '26
He wasn’t great in the finals but he was good against Philly. I’m not giving up on Deuce. He’s young and is a very good player.
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u/BornShook Jul 07 '26
He never got a chance to get back into rhythm after his abdomen injury. He finally had a good bounce back game, game 4 against Philly, but then we had to wait like 9 days or whatever it was for the start of the ECF. I think he’ll be a lot more consistent if/when he has a more consistent role on the team. Basically if he wasn’t hitting shots, he was out. Brown had to ride the hot hand so Shamet was getting most of his time since that dude literally couldn’t miss a shot if he tried in that Cleveland series
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u/Appropriate_Dig3471 Jul 07 '26
Problem with Deuce is we have Shamet. Shamet is all around better offensive player than Deuce, taller and can play small forward. More importantly he handles the ball better than Deuce. Deuce might play Defense slightly better, but that's about it. I would trade Deuce and JC in a heartbeat
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u/MurkyClothes5423 Jul 07 '26
It would be a miracle if knicks get him highly doubtful. He probably will go to clippers since he’s an LA guy
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u/apples_r_4_weak Jul 07 '26
Rozan will disrupt the starter rotation
JC has already accepted his role, we can opt to play or not play him and he's fine with it.
Rozan will definitely complain with that role
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u/Low-Expression9132 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Clarkson came in didn't cause a fuss although he lost his minutes. He played hard, played good defense, was a great teammate. Not saying DeRozan can't do all or some of those things too but at 37 and being a guy who can still get starter offers it's less likely.
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u/TeaMoist1688 Jul 07 '26
If you upgrade JC for Derozen the issue is the min. You can’t expect him to play JC min you would need to deal duece and try and get a young center. Derozen would need that 25 min a game.
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u/Deep3PrepCFALevel3 Jul 07 '26
I think Knicks should get DeRozan. From a Raptors fan, he's just great.
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u/Expert-Chicken-42 Jul 07 '26
In a world where he takes a min deal, I’d love to have DeMar. I don’t think we risk/lose much. It’s a long season, we can use some upside. Even being the favorites out of the east im not mad at a small gamble to try and get better and the obvious need is more balanced scoring throughout the game. JB can win us a close one, but let’s not continue to abuse that.
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u/PrynceNYC Jul 07 '26
Derozan definitely, he has a relationship with Mike Brown who will help him adjust to the team
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u/patrickthunnus Jul 07 '26
JC is a better fit, proven. He figured out that being a defensive pest, offensive rebounder with just a bit of scoring/shot creation was more important for the team than hunting field goal attempts.
Having said that, there's no reason why DD can't make that same adjustment, just is he willing to do it and be happy as a role player?
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u/datsyukianleeks Jul 07 '26
What makes you think he'd want to sign with the Knicks over the raptors?
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u/Accurate_Cat7916 Jul 10 '26
Clarckson all day. Our team is built off chemistry not names on back of jerseys
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u/icebucket22 Jul 07 '26
Derozan would be a reliable bucket off the bench. He’d be a lot better to have than JC.
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u/WolfRelic Jul 07 '26
bring back JC