The Los Angeles Lakers might feature one of the fiercest battles for the starting point guard spot during training camp, with rookie point guard Jordan Clarkson joining the competition with Jeremy Lin and Steve Nash.

According to Los Angeles Times writer Mike Bresnahan, Clarkson could end up as the Lakers' starting point guard towards the end of the season. Bresnahan believed Clarkson's immense upside to become a two-way player in the league could pave the way for him to snag the starting point guard role from Lin and Nash.

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"The 46th overall selection had a great off-season and impressed Lakers coaches at the Las Vegas summer league. One team insider thinks Clarkson could push for the starting job at point guard later in the season," according to Bresnahan.

The 22-year old Clarkson averaged at least 17 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in his final season with the Missouri Tigers. Many scouts raved about Clarkson's ability to play on both ends of the floor and his immense potential as combo guard.

What does this mean for Lin?

The 26-year old Lin arrived in Hollywood after the Houston Rockets traded him and a first-round pick next year to the Lakers in a salary-saving move this offseason.

The Asian-American star averaged just 12 points and 4 dimes per game in backup role for the Rockets, but showed improvement across three major shooting percentages: field goal shooting, three-point shooting and free-throw shooting.

Many preseason previews projected Lin to start over 40-year old Nash and Clarkson right from the get-go, stressing the former Harvard standout has a golden opportunity to have a breakout year with his new role in purple-and-gold jersey.

Still, the starting point guard spot is not guaranteed to be his for the remainder of the 2014-15 season, as Clarkson and even Nash are expected to make a run for the role.

If this happens, Lin's tenure with the Lakers could come as quick as a one-year rental, leaving him searching for another home as an unrestricted free-agent by next summer. 

TagsJeremy Lin news, Jeremy Lin rumors, Lakers nation, Lakers rumors, NBA trade news, Jordan Clarkson