It’s hard to say when exactly there will come word of Jordan’s plans seeing as how a few other teams are expected to be in the mix for his services as well. He rebuilt his reputation enough to believe he could do better than the $8.7 million he was due to make in the final year of the deal, and should see a significant raise elsewhere after opting out of his contract.
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Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons, who likes to be active on the recruitment front, reportedly met up with Jordan in Houston. There were rumors that Jordan felt like the third wheel to the offense designed around Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.
The Knicks will meet with Aldridge and Clippers center DeAndre Jordan at some point this week in Los Angeles.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne, if Jordan picks the Mavericks, the Clippers would like to have a sign and trade deal in place with Dallas that includes Tyson Chandler.
As DeAndre Jordan meets with teams around the league during National Basteball Association free agency, it is clear that he has one demand.
“The Clippers” primary tool in their pursuit of free agents is the so-called mini-midlevel exception of $3.37 million per year for up to three years. Carlisle has been lauded throughout his career as a coach who works well with players on the deep bench, and it’s led to several unexpected contributions from unexpected players at big moments in Dallas over the years.
For a team to be fully committed to Jordan, he must learn to accept his role as a shot blocker and rebounder. One team that is interested in the championship point guard is the Kings – and Rudy Gay in particular. Sure, eventually, they’ll have to land the big fish in the pond, but it’s impossible not to consider this progress.
With the Mavericks, Lakers, Knicks and potentially others positioning themselves for a run at the prized center in the coming days, the Clippers aren’t about to concede their star without a fight.
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For a franchise that spent decades looking for a true big man under the rim, it seems unlikely that Dallas would allow Chandler to get away, not once, but twice in the last five seasons. While “Hack-a-Jordan” has become a common practice for opponents, the Clippers are 12-0 during the regular season when Jordan attempts 14 or more free throws. Couple his talent with him taking the risk of playing on the qualifying-offer (and by virtue becoming an unrestricted free agent), and Monroe hits free agency as one of the most obtainable upper-tier free agents.
