NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 DeAndre Jordan trades the Clippers would have to consider
1. DeAndre Jordan finally goes to Dallas
Mavericks get: DeAndre Jordan, Patrick Beverley
Clippers get: Nerlens Noel, Josh McRoberts, 2021 second round pick, 2022 second round pick, 2019 first round pick protected 1-14, 2020 first round pick protected 1-20, 2021 first round pick if not conveyed
The Mavericks are a wild card. Dirk Nowitzki is getting closer to retirement, and they are highly unlikely to compete again with him around. But they have Dennis Smith Jr., Harrison Barnes and a lot of cap space at the moment. Unlike the other teams considered, they can easily absorb Jordan at his current salary and then extend him this summer. And while Jordan will improve the Mavericks some, he isn’t going to help them get out of the bottom of the lottery. Patrick Beverley becomes a cost effective backup for Smith next season when he returns from injury.
What the Clippers get here is immediate cap relief if they decide they want to attempt to clear their books and chase stars this summer. A few picks in return for an exciting player isn’t a bad return for someone who might leave this summer, too. The protections aren’t ideal, but Dallas should protect itself. Plus, sending Jordan to the Mavericks just feels right considering every Clipper who convinced him to change his mind are now no longer in Los Angeles.
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Another team that could offer a similar deal are the Suns. Acquiring Jordan is rushing their rebuild some and paying him is risky, but this is a team that hasn’t always wanted to be a patient. A Jordan-Tyson Chandler swap works financially and a future first from 2022 and beyond might be enough if the Clippers are inclined to sell and at least get something in return. Plus, Chandler will soon be an expiring contract the Clippers could flip in the summer or at next year’s deadline.
And maybe the Lakers could offer some of their dead money and expiring deals to get Jordan now and use him as a selling point for free agents. The only issue, however, is that he figures to take up one of the two max cap space Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are carving out.