NBA free agency 2015: Top 5 signings in first week
1. DeAndre Jordan, Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are always going to be brash and bold while Mark Cuban owns the team. The Shark Tank star is known for reeling in big fish, and he did it again on Friday afternoon when his team reportedly came to terms with center DeAndre Jordan on a four-year, $80 million contract. With Jordan coming into town, the Mavericks have established themselves as a team to be reckoned with.
Dallas has been busy this offseason after watching center Tyson Chandler leave for the Phoenix Suns on a four-year, $52 million deal. However, they have more than replaced Chandler – and absolutely crippled the Los Angeles Clippers – by signing Jordan. Jordan, 27, is a Texas native who came home despite an offer of five years and more than $100 million by the Clippers, according to Bleacher Report.
Jordan was nothing more than a role player throughout his first five years with the Clippers after being taken with the 35th-overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. However, Jordan blossomed alongside Chris Paul and Blake Griffin in 2013-14, averaging 10.4 points and 13.6 rebounds per game. Last season, Jordan took it another step forward with 11.5 points and 15.0 rebounds per contest.
Dallas has a core of Jordan, Chandler Parsons and Dirk Nowitzki heading into the fall, along with free-agent signings Wesley Matthews and Jose Barea. The Mavericks continue to make the Southwest Division stronger, a group which sent all five teams to the Western Conference playoffs last year.