On fourth down at trade deadline Thursday, it appeared the Lakers were going to stand pat with their young players, hang on to loads of stifling salary, and give up on their master plan of convincing potential free agents LeBron James and Paul George to sign up together this summer.
Coming back from the Cavaliers were troubled Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and a surely late first-round 2018 draft pick … but wait.
Clarkson and Nance Jr. have contracts the Lakers were hoping to dump. Thomas and Frye likely will be temporary Lakers because of contracts that will expire this summer.