The Dallas Mavericks and LA Clippers are actively engaged in trade scenarios regarding DeAndre Jordan, according to The New York Times‘ Marc Stein.
The teams are working to get a deal done before the start of free agency on July 1.
Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports (via Twitter) that the Clippers are still awaiting Jordan’s decision on his player option for next season. Jordan has until 11:59 ET on June 29 to make his decision:
Sources: Clippers still waiting for DeAndre Jordan to make decision to opt-in, opt-out $24.1 million deal. Deadline Friday at midnight. Clips in daily contact with DJ’s reps. DJ’s agent talking with Mavs about center. Mavs interested to get DJ in sign-and-trade or free agent.
Here’s more from Stein on what it might take for Jordan to end up with the Mavs this summer:
If Jordan decides to opt in, Dallas can trade for him before free agency begins Sunday at 12:01 a.m., with the veteran swingman Wes Matthews and his $18.7 million contract likely to be the centerpiece of any offer.
If Jordan decides to pass on the option, Dallas would be forced to try to sign him in free agency. Other potential frontcourt targets for the Mavericks in that scenario include the All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins of the New Orleans Pelicans and the restricted free agent Clint Capela of the Houston Rockets.
The Clippers have granted permission to Jordan and his New York-based agent, Jeff Schwartz, to explore trade scenarios with other teams as they weigh the pros and cons of opting into the final season of Jordan’s current contract, according to the people. The All-Star guard Chris Paul made a similar move with the Clippers a year ago, opting into the final season of his contract as a prelude to his trade to the Houston Rockets just days before he was to become an unrestricted free agent.
Since last week’s acquisition of the prized Slovenian teenager Luka Doncic in a draft-night trade with Atlanta — setting up Doncic and 20-year-old guard Dennis Smith Jr. as the franchise’s new young cornerstones alongside the scoring forward Harrison Barnes — Dallas has made no secret of its need to address its center void in free agency.
In the summer of 2015, Jordan verbally committed to signing a four-year deal with Dallas in free agency, but changed his mind shortly before the moratorium period ended. He chose to stay in L.A. following a saga that took the league by storm. Clippers coach Doc Rivers, then-teammates Chris Paul and Blake Griffin each traveled to the center’s home, staying there until he re-signed with the Clippers.
Three years later, Jordan once again has a chance to end up in Texas. He is a native of the state and starred at Texas A&M before being drafted by the Clippers with the 35th pick in the 2008 Draft. The 29-year-old averaged 12.0 points and a career-high 15.2 rebounds last season.
On Tuesday, the Clippers traded guard Austin Rivers to the Washington Wizards for center Marcin Gortat. Last season, the Clippers had Jordan, Montrezl Harrell and Boban Marjanovic in their center rotation.
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