Fansided

NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 most puzzling contract decisions

By Brendon Kleen

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 13: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls moves against Sindarius Thornwell #0 of the LA Clippers at the United Center on March 13, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 13: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls moves against Sindarius Thornwell #0 of the LA Clippers at the United Center on March 13, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 01: DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks the ball while Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers looks on in the first half at Staples Center on April 1, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 01: DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks the ball while Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers looks on in the first half at Staples Center on April 1, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

3. DeAndre Jordan, Dallas Mavericks — one year, $22.9 million

Jordan is a good player, but there’s a reason the Clippers were fine seeing him walk away.

The 10-year veteran will turn 30 in less than a week, and saw a precipitous drop in his block rate sap his defensive impact last season. Gone is the overwhelming athleticism that made him a matchup nightmare for ground-bound or undersized bigs. Unclear, then, is the value Jordan provides that would make him worth $23 million.

Planning for the inevitable, Los Angeles was able to acquire a serviceable starting center in Marcin Gortat via trade days before free agency began. He will cost them just $13.6 million this season. The Clippers are also in the driver’s seat for Montrezl Harrell’s services if they can wait out his restricted free agency. A rotation featuring those two may ultimately be more effective than Jordan, considering the financial resources they will be able to allocate elsewhere this season and next.

On the Mavericks’ side, there is little problem on the surface with bringing in a player who fits a positional need and wants to play for the franchise. They have historically flirted with one another in the past, so this reunion carries significant weight.

But seeing how the market broke down, it looks now like a mistake that Dallas wasn’t able to throw a long-term offer at Julius Randle or Clint Capela in restricted free agency. Those players will surely be making less than market value next season, while Dallas will be using a good portion of its cap space on the 30-year-old Jordan.

It seems Dallas may have been reacting to pressure imposed by Jordan, who could have instead opted into his final season with the Clippers and limited the Mavericks’ ability to acquire him. That is a far too narrow view of the options available to the Mavericks, and not the way they should be making decisions for their young, growing team.

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