Cavaliers Remain Interested in DeAndre Jordan
By Blake Harris
With just hours left until the NBA Trade Deadline, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers remain engaged in serious trade talks regarding DeAndre Jordan.
We’re just hours away from this all being over. Long at last, it is NBA Trade Deadline Day. A day that seems as if it’s been on its way for months. Today is a very important day for the Los Angeles Clippers, in what potentially can be a franchise altering day. DeAndre Jordan, who has been in trade rumors for majority of the season, is still an LA Clipper. But that can instantly change in a heart-beat.
According to Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports, the Cavaliers are still trying to make one final push for the center.
#Clippers and #Cavs spent last night engaged in serious trade talks revolving DeAndre Jordan, per league source. Should a deal get done however, Clips are insisting it include the #Nets pick (which Dan Gilbert doesn't want to surrender). I'm told only the Cavs pick is on table.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 8, 2018
Does it get done?
There’s no question this would be a huge addition for a Cavaliers team that seems to be going in all directions. They haven’t had a true center in years. Picking up Jordan would make them instant contenders coming out of the East. However, the hold on this trade has been Cleveland’s unwillingness to part ways with that Brooklyn pick, something the Clippers are requiring in a potential deal.
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This pick has the potential to be extremely valuable. At the moment, that pick is slated for seventh overall. The upside, it’s only one game out of being the No. 1 overall pick. It’s also only half a game out from being a top-three pick. So yes, this pick is huge. It makes sense for Cleveland not wanting to part ways with it, with the possibility of losing LeBron James this summer. However, if the Cavs want to get this deal done, there’s no way around it without parting ways with the pick.
Per a league source, one caveat to a potential DeAndre Jordan trade is that the #Clippers would require a big in return from the #Cavs or move another piece to get a big. It is worth noting that Montrezl Harrell (plus 22 PER) has played quite well for LA. https://t.co/nxDt7HyjTM
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 8, 2018
It’s likely the Clippers would bring back Tristan Thompson in the deal. Thompson isn’t a horrible player by any means, he’d be a solid contributor to the team. It’s his contract, though, that is scary. After this season, Thompson has two years left on his contract worth just under $40 million. Not entirely sure the Clippers want to take on a contract like that, but with the potential of requiring a top-three pick, they just might have to. Regardless of what happens, it’s going to be an exciting day.