Mavericks land Texas-native Jordan
Rebounding leader leaves Clippers after seven years
DALLAS— DeAndre Jordan has chosen the Mavericks over the Los Angeles Clippers in what turned into a tense boom-or-bust wait for Dallas in pursuit of the free-agent centre.
Two people familiar with the deal tell The Associated Press that the NBA’s reigning rebound leader agreed to terms Friday. One said the deal was worth $80 million over four years. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because no deals can be completed and signed until Thursday.
This is the biggest free-agent pickup in Mark Cuban’s15 years as Dallas owner.
The deal comes two days after the Mavericks lost their backup plan when last season’s starter, Tyson Chandler, bolted for Phoenix.
The last of Jordan’s four meetings was with the Clippers. But coach Doc Rivers couldn’t persuade the Texas native to stick with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the franchise that drafted him seven years ago.
Jordan, who turns 27 this month, led the NBA in rebounding the past two seasons and is coming off careerbest averages of 11.5 points and 15 rebounds. Since the Clippers drafted the Texas A&M star with the 35th overall pick in 2008, Jordan has averaged are 8 points and 9 rebounds.
The six-foot-11 Houston native figures to have a more prominent role in Dallas after being mostly an alleyoop and second-chance option behind Paul and Griffin in Los Angeles.
His best season helped the Clippers get within a victory of their first trip to the Western Conference finals, but Los Angeles collapsed in the second half of a Game 7 loss to Houston at home in the West semifinals. Now his job will be to get the Mavericks out of the first round for the first time since they won the franchise’s only championship in 2011.
The first step to landing Jordan might have come late Thursday when shooting guard Wesley Matthews agreed to a four-year contract with terms that were going to depend on whether Jordan decided to join the former Portland player in Dallas. RONDO TO KINGS: A person with direct knowledge of the deal says the Sacramento Kings and point guard Rajon Rondo have agreed to a oneyear deal for $10 million.
Rondo’s addition comes hours after the Kings and shooting guard Marco Belinelli agreed to a $19 million, three-year contract Friday. RAPTORS: The Raptors signed first-round pick Delon Wright to his rookie-scale contract Friday.
The University of Utah guard was selected with the 20th overall pick in last month’s NBA raft. He’s under contract through the 2016-’17 season with two team option years to follow.