As we prepare for a crucial Game 4 showdown between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals, we can also consider the implications this neck-and-neck series has on other teams in the league.
While Toronto is probably on the outside looking in at some of the Knicks' core talents, it doesn't mean there aren't some logical names on the table that could potentially don Raptors threads in the future.
I already looked at a few of these options from the Finals in a general rundown, but I thought it would be timely to look a bit deeper into the appeal of Jordan Clarkson as a solid vet option for the Raptors to strongly consider.
Jordan Clarkson could be Raptors' top solution for quality veteran depth
In that last piece, I made note of how Clarkson's role has been quite modest in the playoffs. He's averaged just 11.5 minutes of action in the 2026 playoffs, where he's produced decent numbers in that small sample, putting up 5.3 points on 54.9 percent true shooting. But Clarkson hasn't exactly been a crazy needle-mover for New York, which is understandable given their immense depth from top to bottom, and thus, a lack of minutes to go around.
At the same time, it's for that exact reason which I believe makes Clarkson such an appealing target.
Just look at what we saw in Game 3. Clarkson got a bump in role during the affair, where he'd suit up for 13 minutes of action. Despite the Knicks loss, it was actually Clarkson who led the New York reserves in production, having put up 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting, including a perfect 2-for-2 from deep, and finishing with a +8 plus/minus. He also had three rebounds, an assist, and one steal to his name in the Game 3 showing.
On a night where others like Landry Shamet and Deuce McBride couldn't quite get into an impactful groove, Clarkson slotted right in and became the boost that New York needed off the bench.
And for a team like the Toronto Raptors, who are in desperate need of a wily vet like that who doesn't need a tremendous role, can get plugged in at any point and get you buckets: Jordan Clarkson certainly fits that bill.
Last year, Toronto took a swing on Sandro Mamukelashvili, who isn't quite a vet per se, but his game-on attitude and commitment to be a winning player swung fans almost immediately in his favor. There's no reason why Toronto can't find another quality acquisition like that again in someone like Jordan Clarkson (unless he demands a payday outside of the Raptors' budget), bringing a new element of experience with him too.
This Raptors core is very much defined by a hungry youth movement, but everyone knows it doesn't hurt to have some battle-tested vets to round out the rest of team. Toronto will have that opportunity to offer a whole host of veterans some modest deals in free agency to improve their roster, and Jordan Clarkson should be right there as a top candidate above the rest.
While he's not exactly a specialist three-point sniper that Toronto could probably use, his style still fits the Raptors' identity, being a very blitzy, microwave scorer who can score in transition. Those strengths alongside a blossoming collection of new blood in Collin Murray-Boyles, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Scottie Barnes looks very promising. We'll just have to see if Bobby Webster and Co. in the Raptors front office think the same this summer.
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