Mavs angling for another shot at Jordan
In the land of second chances, the Mavericks have made it clear they are in a forgiving mood, reversing field to become major threats for free agent-to-be DeAndre Jordan.
Management extended a qualifying offer to Doug McDermott on Tuesday, but then took it off the table when news broke about the Los Angeles Clippers trading for center Marcin Gortat from Washington.
An NBA source said that the Mavericks need the roughly $10 million salary-cap hold that McDermott would have required if he had OK’d the qualifying offer and become a restricted free agent.
By not tendering an offer, the Mavericks are allowing McDermott to become an unrestricted free agent, although they have interest in keeping him.
The move, combined with not picking up Dirk Nowitzki’s second season at $5 million (a team option), plus renouncing Nerlens Noel and making some other minor maneuvers, would open up about $25 million in salary to use in free agency.
That would put the Mavs in a ballpark that Jordan, who made $22.6 million last season and is expected to opt out of the final season of his contract at $24.1 million, and his agent should be comfortable with.
It also would be a clear sign that the Mavericks don’t hold a grudge from 2015, when Jordan gave them a handshake agreement that he would sign with them in free agency, then had a change of heart and returned to the Clippers.
That left a sour taste for the