Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan continues to be the subject of the many trade rumors circulating the league this season, but teammate Blake Griffin doesn’t want Jordan going anywhere. In an interview with ESPN’s Undefeated, Griffin expressed his desire for his teammate to be a “Clipper for life.”
Following from Marc J. Spears,
This is his second time being in this situation. Before that, he was a restricted free agent. Each time I’ve told him the same thing. He knows and he’ll know the exact same thing about how I feel about him and how much we want him to be here, to be a Clipper for life.
But at the end of the day, he has a family and he has to make the decision that is best for him. Whatever that is, I’ll support him. He’ll know how much we want him here.
Jordan is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, and the All-Star center will be a prime target come June. Jordan, who has a player option for 2018, will have his share of suitors, making the decision on his future that much harder.
Reports have come out this season naming the 28-year-old as a potential trade target for the Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Clippers, despite the loss of point guard Chris Paul this past offseason, have remained competitive and currently sit a half game out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the west. Jordan and Griffin, the lone mainstays from the Clippers’ Lob City days, are still committed to holding up a standard of winning.
As Griffin noted in the interview, Jordan has been through the free agency process once before. Back in 2015, Jordan signed a 4-year $80 Million offer sheet with the Dallas Mavericks before returning to the Clippers days later.
