Potential Trade Packages and Landing Spots for LA Clippers Star DeAndre Jordan
The Los Angeles Clippers are at an organizational crossroads this summer, with three-quarters of its core hitting free agency and new executive Jerry West signing on to refocus the franchise's personnel vision.
No surprise, then, that Chris Haynes of ESPN.com reported L.A.'s lone key piece still under contract next season, DeAndre Jordan, might be available via trade.
Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times refuted the notion, but that doesn't do anything to skirt the logic of exploring a Jordan deal this summer.
The Clips could lose Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick in free agency. Jordan wouldn't be a great fit on the rebuilding team that L.A. would become without that trio.
Even if there's a chance the Clippers keep this group together, we know it can't beat the Golden State Warriors. In fact, based on last season, we know it couldn't even beat the Utah Jazz. With age and injury concerns intensifying, where's the upside to running it back?
Plus, there's no way the 79-year-old West signed on at this stage of his career to preside over the same stale group he knows can't compete at a championship level. He'll want to start tinkering, building something new.
We've got just one whispered report out there, so we'll have to get creative coming up with other destinations and packages for Jordan. Turns out there are a handful of intriguing ones.
The Reported Deal
1 of 5
The Deal: Tyson Chandler and 2017 No. 4 pick for DeAndre Jordan
We'd better start here, with Haynes' report on the Clips discussing Jordan to the Phoenix Suns for Tyson Chandler and the No. 4 pick in Thursday's draft.
The Suns are about as young as a team can get, with Devin Booker, Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender composing a 20-and-under core. And while it's hard to imagine Phoenix passing on another high lottery asset at this stage of its development, adding Jordan might be a good way to get its youth a much-needed taste of success.
Eric Bledsoe is still around, and at 27, he's in his prime. Jordan, 28, is also as effective as ever. Those two might be good enough to push this inexperienced group into the playoff race. Whether that's something the rebuilding Suns want yet is worth asking, and you'd think Phoenix would be particularly reticent to surrender a lottery pick for Jordan, who might just leave via a player option in 2018.
Still, Jordan's contract is reasonable at $22.6 million next year. He'd be an upgrade over Chandler.
This is an easier call for the Clippers, who should be seeking draft assets and cap relief. Chandler is on the books for two more years at an average annual value of $13.3 million, and if L.A. is really going to start over, getting a pick that could turn into its next cornerstone makes this a worthwhile move.
Even if this isn't a blow-it-up situation, Chandler would do many of the things Jordan did alongside a possibly re-signed Griffin and Paul—for a little more than half the price.
Get Paul George to L.A.
2 of 5
The Deal: Paul George for DeAndre Jordan
Let's get bold.
Paul George wants to play in Los Angeles, and while his intentions seem specific to the Lakers, maybe renting him and hoping he likes L.A.'s other team enough to stay is a gamble worth taking.
So how about Jordan for George...straight up?
If you're the Indiana Pacers, you're woefully short on leverage and have to consider everything. But "everything" for the Pacers hasn't historically included full rebuilds.
Indy has missed the playoffs just six times since 1990, and though Larry Bird stepping aside might have caused some to wonder whether the mandate to stay competitive would shift, new general manager Kevin Pritchard began his tenure by telling reporters: "I don't believe in tearing it down, because then you can tear down your culture. You can't teach guys how to win. Some teams are out of the playoffs seven, eight, nine years. We don't do that."
That approach may mean a Lakers' offer of two young players and late-first rounders for George lacks appeal. Jordan is established. An All-Star in his prime.
That's more Indy's speed.
The risk here (and it is immense) resides with the Clips. George could walk in a year...probably to the other locker room in Staples Center.
But what if the Clippers reach the conference finals with George, Paul and Griffin? The fit is certainly appealing, as L.A. could go small with a 4-5 combo of George and Griffin, which could unlock spacing for all involved.
Plus, George would give the Clippers the lockdown wing defender they've always craved—one who also happens to be a phenomenal offensive weapon.
Maybe the fit would be undeniably good. Maybe George would stay.
This is only an option if Griffin and Paul both hang around. Otherwise, the sting of sending away Jordan and then losing George for nothing is too great.
Free Cap Space and Get Young
3 of 5
The Deal: Greg Monroe, Thon Maker and Malcolm Brogdon for DeAndre Jordan
Greg Monroe can pass the ball, which makes him a better fit alongside Griffin. But the real value of Monroe might be as a second-unit leader who could serve as an offensive fulcrum without either CP3 or Griffin on the court.
Moose opted into the final year of his deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, and he'll collect $17.9 million in 2017-18 before hitting free agency next summer. He's a downgrade from Jordan, but he'll save the Clips a few bucks this year and give them a chunk of space in 2018.
Maker and Brogdon are the bigger draws.
Both Bucks rookies (soon-to-be sophomores) have experience playing in postseason rotations, and Brogdon could either replace a departing Paul as a starter or learn behind him for a while. In fact, Brogdon's size and shooting even make him a solid starter alongside Paul.
Maker is a lottery ticket but one the Clippers could bring along slowly (if Griffin's still around) or throw into the fire (if he's not). A tantalizing three-point shot means Maker could be a dynamite fit with Griffin.
If L.A could somehow dump either Jamal Crawford or Austin Rivers on the Bucks in the process, this deal gets even better. Either could theoretically help Milwaukee's backcourt rotation.
Ultimately, this is a move that works for the Clips with or without Griffin and Paul. And for the Bucks, who'll never attract a free agent of Jordan's caliber, perhaps a trade (and the ability to offer him more than anyone else in the event of an opt-out) is the way to get him.
Snag a Lottery Pick
4 of 5
The Deal: Nikola Vucevic, Terrence Ross and 2017 No. 6 pick for DeAndre Jordan
Here's another one that serves the Clippers well whether they blow it up or not.
Vucevic and Ross are under contract through 2019 with the Magic for $46 million, which is almost exactly what Jordan will cost in that same span—assuming he doesn't opt out in 2018-19. As a straight two-for-one exchange, this deal makes the Clippers marginally worse, though depth has long been an issue for Los Angeles, and Vucevic's offensive game creates better spacing.
If Redick leaves, Ross would at least make up for his three-point volume, if not his efficiency.
It's the No. 6 pick that really gets the job done here.
Maybe the Clippers use it to grab their next-generation leader. Jonathan Isaac, Lauri Markkanen or Frank Ntilikina could all be there for the taking.
For the Magic, this is a tougher sell.
Though Jordan is better than Vucevic, he's more expensive, could leave in a year and adds to the already bloated cost of Orlando's center position. Bismack Biyombo signed on last season for $17 million per year through 2019-20, and the makeup of recent title-winners says you probably shouldn't spend big on the 5.
You've got to admit, though, a core of Jordan, Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier and Elfrid Payton is kind of exciting, right? Lobs aplenty, Fournier spacing and slashing, and Payton with the setups? Not bad.
We've seen new personnel decision-makers take big swings already. Rob Pelinka dealt D'Angelo Russell. Travis Schlenk punted on Dwight Howard.
Maybe new Magic GM John Hammond will look to make a similar shake-up. If he comes calling with this offer, the Clippers would be wise to accept.
Send DJ North
5 of 5
The Deal: Skal Labissiere, Garrett Temple, Arron Afflalo and 2017 No. 10 overall pick for DeAndre Jordan
The Clips will have to act fast on this one, as Afflalo's salary becomes fully guaranteed for next year on Friday. If L.A. bought him out for just $1.5 million, it'd shed about $12 million this year.
Temple would give L.A. a steady wing vet for a reasonable $8 million per season through 2019 (though Temple has a player option in 2018-19), and if the Clippers could shove off either Crawford or Rivers in a modified version of this deal, they'd be in even better financial shape.
And yes, this is the second time I've tried to unload those guys.
Labissiere remains an unknown. With less than half of a season on his resume—played mostly in a low-stakes, post-DeMarcus Cousins trade environment—it's hard to judge what he'll become. But he was a locked-in top-five pick heading into his first collegiate season before slipping, and the tremendous offensive flashes he showed as a rookie suggest that slide never should have happened.
In a way, this move nets the Clippers two lottery picks: Labissiere, who should have been drafted in that range a year ago, and this season's No. 10 selection.
L.A. should push for Sacramento's fifth pick, but the Kings would be foolish to deal it with Jordan's possible free-agent departure looming.
For Sacramento, getting a big-time free agent remains impossible. So this is the way to grab one. And by doing so now, the Kings could potentially offer an extra fifth year and larger raises when DJ opts out.
Stats courtesy of Basketball Reference or NBA.com. Salary info via Basketball Insiders.
