As the start of the free agency period begins, the talks of what players and teams would like to do moving forward start to become more clear. In under 12 hours, teams and their representatives can meet with free agents to make their pitch as to why that player might be the ‘missing piece’.
One of the top free agents, DeAndre Jordan, is getting interest from a multitude of teams including his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers. According to reports, Jordan will be looking for a 3-year deal with a fourth year player option, seemingly voiding the Clippers leverage of being able to bring Jordan back on the max 5-year deal.
Following from Chris Broussard of ESPN.
Free agent DeAndre Jordan is likely looking to sign a four-year deal that allows him to opt out after three seasons, which would nullify the Los Angeles Clippers’ advantage in keeping the center, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
The Clippers could offer Jordan a deal that includes a fifth year worth $27 million.
Sources, though, told ESPN that Jordan wants a bigger role in the offense and is tired of being a third wheel behind Chris Paul and Blake Griffin with the team.
Jordan will meet with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and the Clippers once free agency begins Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. ET, sources told ESPN.
As Broussard says, the Lakers, Mavs, Knicks and Clippers will all be meeting with the high-flying big man. It’s been reported that the Mavs are the biggest threat to land Jordan and he’s even taken a call from Kobe Bryant in efforts by Kobe to bring him across the hallway to the Lakers locker room and of course, he could join the Knicks and be their veteran rim protector that Derek Fisher and Phil Jackson are looking for.
With Jordan looking for this contract and wanting a bigger role offensively, it all but eliminates the Clippers, partially due to what they are limited to offer due to their horrible cap situation. The Clippers best offer to Jordan can only be the max and now with his new contract demands, Doc Rivers might have to start making some magic happen and fast.
