Dallas Mavericks: 5 potential free agency targets in 2018

5. DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan is coming off a season in which he averaged 12.0 points and a career-high 15.2 rebounds per game. He is most known for his durability, playing at least 77 games for the sixth consecutive season.

Despite this, Jordan’s tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers is likely over. His role isn’t what the team needs as it attempts to change its identity.

Jordan has shown interest in joining the Houston Rockets. However, the interest isn’t as mutual as Jordan would like to believe. Daryl Morey, the 2017-18 NBA Executive of the Year, envisions bigger moves in the Rockets’ future. Houston would prioritize LeBron James, Chris Paul and Clint Capela before pursuing Jordan.

The 29-year-old still might find a home in Texas, albeit a temporary one. If Jordan opts into his 2018-19 player option worth $24.1 million, the Clippers would work with him to facilitate a trade, according to The New York Times‘ Marc Stein.

Stein reported later Wednesday night that Dallas was targeting DJ in a trade that would likely involve Wesley Matthews. If he opts in and the two sides can agree to the deal, he’ll be off this list, but if not, he should still be a free agency target for the Mavs.

Jordan is still limited offensively, a dying breed in a league that increasingly values shooting. It’s also unknown which assets Dallas would part with for a potential one-year rental. Jordan is still effective on defense, however. Having his presence would buy the team time to develop Spalding and Antetokounmpo.

Trading some young prospects could be worth it if the Mavericks could keep Jordan for more than one season. He has playoff experience that would help any young team enter win-now mode.