2015 NBA Free Agency: Teams Should Not Promise DeAndre Jordan Offensive Role

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DeAndre Jordan Los Angeles Clippers
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As DeAndre Jordan meets with teams around the league during NBA free agency, it is clear that he has one demand. Jordan, who may have been growing discontent with the Los Angeles Clippers this past season, is seeking a bigger offensive role next season according to ESPN sources. This is a highly questionable demand from Jordan, a center with little feel in the post and absolutely no perimeter game.

In Los Angeles, head coach Doc Rivers used Jordan perfectly. Jordan was frequently planted under the basket with Chris Paul handling the ball in pick-and-pop plays with Blake Griffin. In these sequences, Jordan received numerous dunk opportunities as teams were forced to help on Griffin’s drives. For these reasons, Jordan averaged 11.5 points per game on 71.0 percent shooting, extremely respectable numbers for a player with no moves in his offensive repertoire.

When the Clippers elected to give Jordan the ball in isolated situations, he showed that he was incapable of scoring efficiently. This past season, Jordan received 66 post-up chances according to NBA.com, scoring .74 points per possession which ranked in the 32nd percentile. This should concern teams interested in Jordan, as he clearly has nothing to contribute with his back to the basket.

For a team to be fully committed to Jordan, he must learn to accept his role as a shot blocker and rebounder. He will always get easy offensive opportunities because of his athleticism and build, but he will never be an offensive threat.

The Dallas Mavericks, one team that has been linked to Jordan for some time, may have offered him his wish. However, even if the Mavericks do sign Jordan, it is hard to believe that a coach as smart as Rick Carlisle will give Jordan the role he wants offensively.

Nicholas Sciria is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Nick_Sciria, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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