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NBA Trade Rumors: DeAndre Jordan for Andre Drummond?

By Brad Berreman

Nov 25, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) and LA Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) hug after the game at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 108-97. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) and LA Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) hug after the game at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 108-97. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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If the Clippers really want to trade DeAndre Jordan, a similar but younger big man may be a viable return.

The Los Angeles Clippers are facing a summer of uncertainty, with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin able to be free agents and the potential (however remote) that both could be gone. Center DeAndre Jordan could be a trade chip to change the composition of the roster, and ESPN’s Chris Haynes reported this week the Clippers are gauging the trade market for him.

The Phoenix Suns were specifically mentioned as engaging the Clippers on Jordan, with a proposal that would send the No. 4 pick on Thursday night and center Tyson Chandler to Los Angeles.

Giving up the No. 4 pick may have ended the conversation from Phoenix’s end. But trade rumors regarding Jordan are sure to linger, and during a Wednesday appearance on ESPN’s The Jump, Brian Windhorst pointed to a possible swap of big men.

Windhorst suggests the Clippers have talked to the Detroit Pistons about acquiring Andre Drummond in a deal involving Jordan. The Pistons may be looking to move Drummond, even with three guaranteed years left on his contract, and being five years younger than Jordan he may appeal to the Clippers.

Jordan’s old school big man skill set isn’t an ideal fit in the modern NBA, and Drummond is almost an exact copy of him. Both guys struggle mightily at the foul line, and Drummond (38.6 percent) was actually substantially worse than Jordan (48.2 percent) this past season. Jordan has led the league in field goal percentage five years running too, including going over 70 percent in each of the last three seasons. Jordan is also a better defensive player, earning All-Defensive first team honors in 2015 and 2016.

From a salary perspective, a one-for-one swap of Jordan and Drummond works. Jordan is slated to make $22.6 million next season, with a $24.1 million player option for 2018-19 that is surely on the Clippers’ mind. Drummond will make $23.7 million next season, with $52.5 million due to him over the following two seasons before his own player option for 2020-21.

Next: 2017 NBA Free Agency: 20 best players available

If the Clippers want to reshape their roster a bit this offseason, trading Jordan for a younger copy doesn’t seem like the way to do it. That said, Jordan could be in a different uniform before the week is out.

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