DeAndre Jordan has made it known that he’s interested in testing the free agency market. He’s planning to meet with numerous teams including the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Dallas is reportedly the top prospect for DeAndre, inserting him as a replacement to Tyson Chandler, but Jordan is still considering a max offer that is on the table from the Los Angeles Clippers. However, with tension residing between Jordan and Clippers guard, Chris Paul, DeAndre doesn’t plan on re-signing until that problem is addressed.
That leaves a window open for anyone to make their play at the dynamic center. The last player that people would expect to reach out to any free agent, did that to start the recruitment process for what could be his last season (via Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times).
Jordan’s first meeting will be on Wednesday with the Dallas Mavericks at the Beverly Hills offices of his representative, Relativity Sports, said NBA officials who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Jordan will meet with the Lakers and then the New York Knicks later in the day, the official said.
The Clippers, who will have Coach Doc Rivers, owner Steve Ballmer and a video presentation, will be the last team to meet with Jordan on Thursday, the officials said.
Jordan has gotten a call from Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, the officials said. Bryant wanted Jordan to know the Lakers are interested.
Kobe Bryant has gotten a bad wrap when it comes to being a good teammate and a recruit but it seems he knows what’s at stake here this off-season and seems to be doing whatever it takes to get his team back into title contention. I mean he said it himself:
Friends can come and go, but banners hang forever.
The Lakers desperately need the size and energy of DeAndre Jordan in the paint. With them not re-signing Jordan Hill, and passing up on Jahlil Okafor with the 2nd pick in the draft, the Lakers lack depth when it comes to post players. Los Angeles has also been in the hunt for other prospective free agents such as DeMarcus Cousins, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Kevin Love. The thought of any of those names pairing up with Jordan in the paint, to combine with Julius Randle coming off the bench sounds pretty good if you’re a Lakers fan.
