Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
There are rumors swirling all around regarding Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan this offseason. A number of teams have been actively making pushes for the defensive stalwart, including the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. Despite all the competition, the Clippers need to make the ultimate effort to bring Jordan back next season.
Some may wonder what the big deal is about Jordan, but in 2014, his game took a major leap. For the season, he averaged 11.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. He also recorded a career-high 47 double-doubles. Those are monster numbers for a big man with a limited offensive game.
Despite Jordan’s limitations, however, his impact on the court goes far beyond what can be seen in the stat sheet. He is an intimidating presence on the floor and when he’s in the lineup, the Clippers are certainly a much tougher team. Jordan was the league’s second-leading rebounder just a season ago and without him, Los Angeles would’ve gotten destroyed on the boards.
The Clippers don’t need Jordan to be a star on the offensive end. That’s not his game anyway. Let Chris Paul and Blake Griffin worry about running the show offensively, while Jordan leads the defensive efforts.
If the Clippers lose out on the Jordan sweepstakes, it’ll be a long season for them. The other prized big men on the market are likely to go elsewhere, so where does that leave the Clippers? It leaves them in a world of trouble, so Doc Rivers and company better be doing whatever it takes to bring the big man back, or else they can forget about contending for a title next year.
Brandon Austin is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @BMoreThanGreat, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
