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Los Angeles Clippers: DeAndre Jordan Made The Right Decision

By Gerald Bourguet

May 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and guard Chris Paul (3) hug after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. Clippers won 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and guard Chris Paul (3) hug after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. Clippers won 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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DeAndre Jordan
May 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and guard Chris Paul (3) hug after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. Clippers won 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

In The End

It wasn’t about the money for Jordan, who eventually signed with the Clippers to a four-year, $88 million deal (with a player option in the fourth year) rather than the five-year, $110 million deal he was eligible for. It was about basketball fit. It was about trust. And it was about feeling wanted.

The Mavs accomplished almost all of those things. Jordan would’ve gotten the expanded role he wanted on offense in Dallas, and he had spent the last few weeks being wined and dined by everyone in the Mavericks organization. The Clippers’ love seemed like it came too late, but after Jordan called Griffin and Doc Rivers expressing doubts, that love came swiftly and in full force.

Paul left his vacation to let Jordan know how much he valued him. Griffin, Redick and Pierce may or may not have turned Jordan’s home into an impenetrable fort to keep the Mavericks away from their prized free agent. The meeting was reportedly short and everyone spent the rest of the time playing cards and video games as they waited for midnight to strike so he could sign the papers.

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In the end, the way Jordan went about going back on his verbal commitment was regrettable, but also 100 percent legal. Days like yesterday are both the beauty and the pity of the NBA’s moratorium period. Jordan should have taken Cuban’s call and manned up. No one can deny that, regardless of the decision he made.

But in terms of the actual decision he made, Jordan chose wisely. He could have left a title contender for a team that probably would’ve been eliminated in the first round, but he and CP3 buried the hatchet and he got paid to stay with a team that’s better than their recent second round exits would have you believe.

You can fault Jordan for the manner in which he handled himself, but at the end of the day, you can’t fault him for sticking with the Clippers.

Next: Are The 2014-15 Golden State Warriors An All-Time Great Team?

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