DeAndre Jordan will soon become an unrestricted free agent. If the Los Angeles Clippers were smart, they would part ways with him and use the money elsewhere.
After squandering a 3-1 series lead against the Houston Rockets in the 2015 Western Conference semifinals, the Clippers now find themselves facing questions on how they can make that next step. This offseason, the Clippers will have a number of decisions to make when it comes to their roster – perhaps none bigger than what to do with the impending free agent center.
Last Sunday after his team was eliminated from the 2015 playoffs, Clippers head coach and President of Basketball Operations Doc Rivers said that re-signing Jordan was the team’s top offseason priority.
Doc said re-signing DeAndre Jordan is the team’s top offseason priority
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) May 17, 2015
In his seventh season in the NBA, the 26-year-old center had career highs in many statistical categories. Jordan finished tops in the league in offensive field goal percentage (.710) and total rebounds per game (15.0). He also finished top five in blocks per game (2.23). When someone like Jordan has a career year during the final year of his contract, it usually means a big, new contract is in his near future. However, this high-paying new contract should not be with the Clippers.
There is no question that Jordan can have a significant impact for the Clippers; it’s just sometimes that significant impact can be negative. During the Clippers’ 2015 playoff run, Jordan shot a playoff-high 157 free throws, including 34 in Game 4 against the Rockets. Many of Jordan’s trips to the foul line are a result of the opposing team employing the “Hack-a-Shaq” strategy because of his inability to make foul shots. As a result, the Clippers either struggle to find a rhythm offensively, or Jordan has to be taken out of the game for long stretches of time.
Although Jordan is a key part to his team’s success, he will always be the third-wheel behind Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. With a max deal for Jordan costing them roughly $109 million, the Clippers need to let the big man walk and use the money elsewhere.
In their seven-game series against the Rockets, a lack of bench depth eventually came back to haunt the Clippers. During this series, the only two players who consistently saw any sort of significant minutes off of the bench were Austin Rivers and Jamal Crawford.
For next season, the Clippers already have about $60 million tied up in only six players and that does not include the team options on Crawford and shooting guard Lester Hudson. If they were to give any sort of significant money to Jordan — let alone a max contract like he is seeking — the Clippers will have almost no room to improve their bench.
Sure the Clippers would love to have a talent like Jordan on their roster, but if a max contract is what he wants, bringing him back just doesn’t make sense on many levels. By allowing Jordan to walk, the Clippers will be able to fill many of the holes that currently plague their roster, as opposed to trying inexpensive, short-term solutions such as Austin Rivers. If they want to break the “Clippers curse” and advance to the Western Conference Finals or even the NBA Finals, then a big three of Paul, Griffin and Jordan is not the answer.
Greg Sacidor is a Feature Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Greg_Sacidor or add him to your network on Google.