Sources: DeAndre Jordan to decline player option with Clippers, clearing way to Mavs

ByADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI
June 29, 2018, 7:06 PM

Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan will not pick up the $24.1 million player option on his contract for next season, clearing the way for him to sign a free-agent deal with the Dallas Mavericks, league sources told ESPN.

Jordan and the Mavericks aren't allowed to discuss or negotiate a deal until July 1, but both sides are well past Jordan's change of heart on a Dallas free-agency commitment in 2015 and prepared to partner together, league sources said.

In recent days, the Clippers and Mavericks were unable to come to terms on a sign-and-trade agreement to move Jordan to Dallas now, but the Mavericks have $27 million in salary-cap space -- and the ability to create more -- to sign Jordan and possibly add more in free agency.

Jordan had until 11:59 p.m. ET Friday to make a decision on whether or not to pick up the option.

Jordan, who will turn 30 on July 21, had spent all 10 of his seasons with the Clippers. He averaged 12 points and a career-high 15.2 rebounds per game this past season.

The last time Jordan was a free agent, the three-time All-NBA standout re-signed with the Clippers, in 2015 when he was the center of an intense back-and-forth between the Clippers and Mavericks.

After initially agreeing to sign a four-year, $80 million deal with the Mavericks, Jordan changed his mind with help from Clippers teammates such as Chris Paul and coach Doc Rivers and returned to L.A. on a four-year, $87 million deal. Rivers, Paul and several of Jordan's then-teammates visited his home in Houston to convince him.

Now Jordan is free again to join the Mavericks or any other team as a free agent.

In one year, the Clippers' original Lob City group is gone and the roster has been overhauled. Last June, the Clippers traded Paul to the Houston Rockets. Then, after re-signing Blake Griffin in free agency, they dealt him to the Detroit Pistons in January.

The Clippers prepared for the possibility of Jordan, their long-time fixture in the middle, moving on by acquiring center Marcin Gortat in a trade with the Washington Wizards for Austin Rivers earlier this week. Gortat, 34, has one year remaining at $13.6 million and gives the Clippers a veteran starter at center.

ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk contributed to this report.