NBA Rumors: Dallas Mavericks are Frontrunners to sign DeAndre Jordan
DeAndre Jordan will reportedly meet with the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and the Dallas Mavericks when he becomes a free agent in July. League sources are reporting that the Mavericks are the frontrunners to sign the center.
Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons, who likes to be active on the recruitment front, reportedly met up with Jordan in Houston. Parsons and Jordan, who are represented by the same agent, Dan Fegan, then flew back to Los Angeles together. Parsons was responsible for convincing Dwight Howard to come to the Houston Rockets in 2013.
Sources added that Jordan's decision will most likely come down to the Clippers, who he has been with for seven years, or the Mavericks. There were rumors that Jordan felt like the third wheel to the offense designed around Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Other reports claimed that Paul's highly competitive nature can cause tension between the players, which could also persuade Jordan to leave LA.
Kurt Helin with ProBasketballTalk wrote:
"Still, the Clippers have three big things going for them. First, Jordan likes being in Los Angeles and Hollywood, he likes all the perks that can be associated with living in the nation's second . Second, frustrated with him or not, no point guard is going to make Jordan look as good, no point guard trust him like Paul. Finally, and most importantly, the Clippers can offer one more guaranteed year (five years vs. four) and about $30 million more in guaranteed money than anyone else.
The money - and the fact the Clippers are contenders - should have Jordan leaning Los Angeles. But after years of feeling like the third guy at best on the team, the fact other teams are going to pump up his ego - as Parsons is already doing - will play well with a guy wanting that recognition."
If the Mavericks are unsuccessful on the Jordan front, they will reportedly try to re-sign Tyson Chandler.
Jordan averaged 11.5 points and 15 rebounds during the regular season. In 14 playoff games, he averaged 13.1 points and 13.4 rebounds.
