NBA free agency: Lakers, Jordan Clarkson agree to four-year, $50 million deal

The Lakers may have struck out on landing a marquee free agent. But they managed to keep one of their rising stars from leaving.

The Lakers and second-year guard Jordan Clarkson agreed to a four-year deal worth $50 million, according to league sources. The deal caot be signed until the NBA moratorium ends on July 7.

Clarkson fielded interest from four other teams, according to league sources. But he prioritized the Lakers after they selected him 46th overall in the 2014 NBA draft. He then landed on the NBA’s All-Rookie first team before finishing last season second in points (15.5) and first in minutes played (32.5).

“We had two tough years, but I don’t want to be a guy that is afraid and will run away from challenges,” Clarkson said earlier this month. “I want to be a part of the situation when it tus around because I was here when it was down. I never want to leave.”

The Lakers could have waited considering they could have matched any offer sheet Clarkson received from other teams. That move also could have given the Lakers some short-term relief. Under the so-called Gilbert Arenas rule, the Lakers could pay Clarkson around $5.5 million for the next seasons before receiving a hefty pay raise around $22-$23 million per season.

Still, that approach could have hurt the Lakers’ future cap space when the free agency classes might be considered more talented. Instead, the Lakers sent a clear message that they consider the 24-year-old Clarkson part of their long-term future.

Blast from the past

The Lakers’ quest to facilitate their rebuilding project led them toward reaching back to their recent past.

The Lakers expressed interest in acquiring Atlanta forward Kent Bazemore, according to league sources. But two years after Bazemore became a lost casualty of the Lakers’ heavier priority on star free agents, the Lakers will field stiff competition from other teams interested in his services.

Bazemore met with representatives of the Houston Rockets on Thursday night and has shown interest toward six other teams, including the Hawks, league sources said. After averaging 11.6 points on 44.1 percent shooting and 5.1 rebounds in his second season with Atlanta, Bazemore has become a rising commodity because of his offensive and defensive versatility.

Out and about

New Orleans power forward Ryan Anderson left the Beverly Wilshire on Friday afteoon after meeting with the Toronto Raptors. The location seemed fitting considering the Lakers are interested in Anderson, too.

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Last season, Anderson averaged 16.5 points off the bench and made 36.6 percent of his 3-point attempts. The 6-foot-10 Anderson would also give the Lakers added versatility to take advantage of the mode NBA that Lakers coach Luke Walton hopes to implement from his time with the Golden State Warriors.

Anderson will likely command a max contract after making $17 million last season. Although the Lakers have enough money to sign two max players, it is not currently clear how much they would pay Anderson. Anderson recently bought a house in Hermosa Beach, sources said.

Shuffling positions

Walton added some recognizable names to his coaching staff. The Lakers aounced on Friday that former Lakers players Brian Shaw and Mark Madsen will be his assistants.

Shaw won three NBA championships with the Lakers as a player and worked on Phil Jackson’s staff before becoming an Indiana assistant and the Denver Nuggets’ head coach. Madsen won two NBA titles with the Lakers in 2001 and 2002, and has worked on the Lakers coach staff under Mike D’Antoni (2013-14) and Byron Scott (2014-16) the past three seasons.

Jesse Mermuys, who graduated from Walton’s alma mater at the University of Arizona, will be another assistant and will also coach the Lakers’ summer league team.

Jim Eyen and Paul Pressey had been assistants under Scott and will not have their original roles. Walton has hired all of his assistants, but he plans to finalize his coaching staff in the next few weeks.

Also

Lakers rookie center Ivica Zubac will play on their Las Vegas summer league team begiing on July 8. ... Walton and his wife, Bre, welcomed the birth of their second child on Thursday around 2 a.m. The girl’s name is Landen.