DeAndre Jordan leaves Clippers, sets sights on Mavericks

MANILA, Philippines – The final piece of Lob City has left the building.

 Los Angeles Clippers star center DeAndre Jordan did not exercise his $24.1 million player option and will test free agency, per the Clippers’ Twitter account.

Thank you, @DeAndre!!! pic.twitter.com/teMAVMk42C

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) June 30, 2018

The 6-foot-11 big man has now set his sights on joining Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Jordan will become an unrestricted free agent, and pathway has been cleared to negotiate a deal with the Dallas Mavericks. https://t.co/B2vcb5xipA

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2018

However, while a majority of reports have Jordan headed to the Texas Triangle, the Bay Area is not about to give up. 

According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Golden State Warriors are still holding on to a slim hope that Jordan will take a massive pay cut to complete an All-Star starting 5 with Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Such a move would require Jordan to take a deal starting at the taxpayer midlevel exception of $5.3 mil — which would cost the Warriors more like $27 mil next season. But it has been whispered around the Warriors for months that they will at least explore making a run at Jordan https://t.co/YMkABpbq3v

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 30, 2018

Jordan will have to give up a shade under $20 million next year to chase a near-guaranteed NBA championship, due to the Warriors’ payroll already locked up on the aforementioned All-Stars. 

The 29-year-old Houston native was originally set to sign with the Mavericks 3 years prior before backing out and re-signing with LA.

Today, the Dallas roster looks a lot more enticing for Jordan with a very promising backcourt of All-Rookie Second Teamer Dennis Smith, Jr. and the 2018 NBA Draft’s 3rd overall selection, 19-year-old EuroLeague MVP Luka Doncic.  

Joining them are a long list of talents like Harrison Barnes, Seth Curry, Wesley Matthews, Dwight Powell, Nerlens Noel and even the aging Nowitzki and JJ Barea. – Rappler.com