A reported rift between Los Angeles Clippers stars DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul could hurt the team's chances of re-signing Jordan in the offseason as a free agent. If Jordan does begin seriously to consider testing free agency, a number of teams are expected to chase him, including the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Portland Trail Blazers, the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks.
Two reports suggest Jordan may not be such a sure-bet to stay with the Clippers beyond this season. The first comes from Fox Sports' Bill Reiter, who reported there's a beef between Jordan and Paul.
"All season, multiple sources say, a growing schism emerged between Jordan and point guard Chris Paul, and it could contribute to Jordan's decision to stay or go as a free agent," Reiter wrote Sunday. "Sources say Paul's well-known edginess and drive ground on Jordan's nerves for much of the year. Contributing to the problem was Paul's view that Jordan lacked the appropriate commitment to working on his free throws, including not working enough with the Clippers shooting coach on that issue, sources said."
Reiter also quoted a source familiar with the inner workings of the Clippers organization as saying "things aren't good" between Jordan and Paul. Asked if the issues between the two players were serious, the source said: "Oh yeah. (Jordan) might leave. He really might."
The second report comes from ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. She didn't mention the purported rift with Paul, but she did say several Clipper-related issues are beginning to frustrate Jordan.
"As much as he loves being in Los Angeles and is perfectly suited to play alongside Griffin and Paul, he has longed for a larger stage and role," Shelburne wrote Tuesday. "Not making the All-Star team or winning a defensive player of the year award has frustrated him. So does losing in the second round, year after year."
Shelburne also reported three teams expected to pursue Jordan in July.
"The Dallas Mavericks are expected to make a strong push for Jordan, who would essentially be a younger version of the Mavs' current defensive anchor Tyson Chandler," she wrote. "The Lakers would likewise love to steal Jordan away from their Staples Center rival. Portland has enough cap space to re-sign LaMarcus Aldridge and make a max offer to Jordan -- who has a similar but far superior skill set to Robin Lopez -- but he'd just be trading one third-fiddle spot for another in that scenario."
A previous report indicated Jordan, a Texas native, and the Mavericks have a strong mutual interest in each other. The report also claimed Jordan was "extremely interested" in playing for Dallas, a team that should have enough cap space this summer to offer him competitive pay. Another report
The Lakers likely will have enough cap space this summer to offer one max-level contract, and they've been linked to just about every free agent on the market. If Jordan does become available, the Lakers would certainly make a run at him.
Portland seems to have less of a shot to land Jordan than the two aforementioned teams, largely because of the uncertainty surrounding their roster for next season. Aldridge reportedly is no longer a lock to re-sign with Portland in the offseason. Even if Aldridge did stay, ESPN's Nick Borges reported Portland would have to renounce its rights to all of its other soon-to-be free agents, including guard Wesley Mathews, to bring in Jordan. The holes in Portland's roster were evident in its first-round playoff loss this season, and with veteran Arron Afflalo also reportedly likely to leave this summer, it's hard to see Jordan signing with the Trail Blazers.
Other teams linked to Jordan include the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks.
The Knicks, like the Lakers, have enough cap space and big-market allure to be in the running for almost every free agent in July and will certainly make a pitch to Jordan during free agency. New York is coming off a losing season, but the Carmelo Anthony-led team could look drastically different after the 2015 NBA draft. The triangle offense would also grant Jordan his purported wish of having a bigger role in the offense, given the system's use of centers.
