We’re not even 24 hours removed from the end of the Clippers’ 2014-15 season, and yet the questions about Lob City’s future are already looming large. The biggest (literally and figuratively) question for the Clips is what will happen with 26-year-old center DeAndre Jordan. Set to be a free agent this summer, Jordan will more than likely command a max contract, which for Los Angeles would mean putting up $100 million.
Will they do it? It sounds like they want to keep DJ, but it remains to be seen if the front office—and Doc Rivers—wants to pay that kind of premium, which would in effect shut down any hopes of improving the roster outside of the Big Three of Jordan, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul.
From Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:
The Rockets move onto the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference finals, and the Clippers move into the summer with an anvil hanging over the franchise. DeAndre Jordan will become an unrestricted free agent, and it’ll take a five-year, $100 million max contract to re-sign him.
The Dallas Mavericks are chief among several significant suitors, and the questions for Jordan are these: Does he want a larger offensive role elsewhere, and does he think the organization can win a championship with the co-existence of Paul and Griffin?
“You can’t take anything for granted, but DJ loves being a Clipper,” Rivers told Yahoo. “DJ loves being here. We have an amazing relationship.”
