NBA: Is DeAndre Jordan Worth A Max Contract?

The NBA is in a weird place right now in terms of the historical importance that certain types of players have on the floor.

For many years, it was a big man’s league, as taller and longer players dominated on both ends of the floor and dictated how a game was going to play out.

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Nowadays, it has become a guard-oriented league, with a lot of the best players being perimeter-based in their games. Three-point shooting has become more popular than the post-up for a lot of teams, yet it doesn’t seem big men are going away, as three of the top free agents in this year’s offseason class are post players.

LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol and DeAndre Jordan all play down low, and all change the game in their own way. Aldridge is a scoring machine at the power forward position, able to not only get his in the post, but also capable of stepping out and hitting mid-range jumpers with ease, even showcasing the occasional three-point shot.

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Gasol is a two-way player in every sense of the word, as he’s arguably the most skilled center in the NBA today. His defense is what makes him extra valuable, but his passing vision and ability to play out of the high post and have plays ran through him is what really makes the Memphis Grizzlies go night after night.

Jordan is a different kind of animal, as his game is predicated off of his tantalizing athleticism for a player of his size.

Jordan moves a lot like a guard when he runs the floor, which is dangerous for anyone trying to stop him in the open court. He can go up and finish at the rim with the best of them. In fact, he finished 71.0 percent of his shots last season, an impressive mark for any player.

That athleticism translates to a lot of big plays on the defensive end as well. He’s always active at making plays on that end of the floor, be it incredible blocks or timely steals and deflections that can give his team the edge. Jordan is also an excellent one-on-one defender, as he has the quickness and length to affect what his man is able to do close to the basket.

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Jordan was in the running to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year Award last season and for good reason. He does so much to help the Los Angeles Clippers‘ defense night after night, especially his rebounding.

Being an elite rebounder is tough in the NBA because of the physicality of the game. However, there are some nights that Jordan just makes it look easy because of the length he already possesses at 6-foot-11 combined with his ability to jump over nearly anyone in his path. Last season, Jordan grabbed 15.0 rebounds per game, including 4.8 per game on the offensive glass.

Jordan is relentless on the boards, something that helped keep the Clippers afloat for a lot of the season, especially when Blake Griffin was hurt.

The question though is whether he’s worth a max contract or not, and I’m going to lean towards no.

For all that Jordan gives you on the defensive side of the basketball, his offensive game is still limited to easy putbacks and dunks, as he still hasn’t developed any kind of go-to move, and I’m not sure he ever will.

May 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) attempts a free throw during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Not only that, but he is an abysmal free-throw shooter, as the “Hack-A-Jordan” strategy is always in full effect in tight games, especially in the playoffs. His career percentage from the charity stripe is 41.7 percent, making him a liability to play late in games.

Clippers head coach Doc Rivers had no choice but to take him out sometimes and play a smaller lineup with Blake Griffin at the center spot because of how incapable he was of hitting his free throws. Is that kind of player who can’t play the entire fourth quarter reliably really worth the maximum amount of money he can be paid?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he isn’t worth a lot of money. Jordan can be a game-changer for the first three quarters of a game no problem. However, when it comes down to crunch time and needing another player that can go and get buckets, he’s not worth the most you can pay him.

When I think of a maximum-caliber talent, I envision a player who’s gifted offensively but can also get after it on defense and does everything he can to help his team win. Jordan can do two of those things well, but he’s not as well-rounded of a talent as I would like to see for my money’s worth.

Is he a $10 million player? Absolutely. Is he a $15 million-17 million player? I would pump the brakes on that notion just a tad.

Next: 2015 NBA Free Agency: The Big Question For Every Team

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