DALLAS — DeAndre Jordan gave the Dallas Mavericks his word. Then he gave the Los Angeles Clippers his signature.
After a Clippers contingent including Blake Griffin, J.J. Redick, Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers descended on Jordan’s home in Houston on Wednesday night for a last-ditch push to keep their defensive pillar, Jordan backed out of a verbal agreement with the Mavericks to stay with the only NBA home he’s ever had.
The Clippers announced Jordan’s deal late Wednesday night. It’s a four-year pact worth more than $87 million, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press. The terms, first reported by USA Today, include a player option after the third season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team was not releasing contract details.
The Clippers also sent out a tweet welcoming Jordan back to Los Angeles.
[tweet https://twitter.com/LAClippers/status/618994324458487810 align=’center’]
Once and for all.
Jordan initially agreed to a four-year deal worth more than $80 million to leave the Clippers after seven seasons and join the Mavericks, a team that offered him a more featured role on offense. But that was last Friday, and the contract could not be signed until 12:01 a.m. ETÂ Thursday, according to NBA rules.
That gave Jordan time to think it over, and when word got back to the Clippers that he was having second thoughts, they pounced.
Without him, the Clippers were scrambling to find an answer at center and in danger of falling far back in the loaded Western conference. Now, with Jordan back to center a lineup that includes All-Stars Griffin and Chris Paul and added Pierce and Lance Stephenson this summer, the Clippers again will have plenty of talent to compete.
Thumbnail photo via Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports Images
