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Los Angeles Clippers: Letting DeAndre Jordan leave is the smart move

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 09: DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Los Angeles Clippers looks on from the bench in the second half of the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Staples Center on April 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 09: DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Los Angeles Clippers looks on from the bench in the second half of the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Staples Center on April 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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With more DeAndre Jordan rumors swirling, it’s time for the Los Angeles Clippers to part ways with the big man this summer.

2015. Houston. DeAndre Jordan is locked in his home while Mark Cuban drives around frantically. Twitter is ablaze and yet, somehow, the Los Angeles Clippers convince their star center to return to the team. Jump forward three years and Jordan is about to enter free agency and reportedly wants to join the Houston Rockets. This time, just let him go.

DeAndre Jordan is the longest tenured player in the Los Angeles Clippers’ franchise history. He’s done a ton for this team and has been a pillar of the organization. But accomplishments and accolades aside, is he really even worth it anymore?

Look back at this season. We all got on DJ for his apparent lack of effort on the court. The man just flat out looked like he wasn’t trying at times. We speculated from the get go that his head didn’t seem to be in it. From that article:

"Why isn’t he closing out on bigs that can shoot like DeMarcus Cousins? Why is he walking to the bench after picking up a foul, down by double digits, and laughing as if he doesn’t care?"

Once the Blake trade went down, it seemed even more obvious.

Now, in fairness, it cannot be easy to play with the right attitude day in and day out when you are the constant subject of trade talks and you don’t know what could possibly be your last game with the team.

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DJ even remained a consummate professional to the media, telling them he wanted to be with the team for ten more years if he could. He may have been telling the truth and if all of these reports are just hearsay and he’s willing to try his best for the team, then sure, bring him back. Let him be a Clipper for life.

However, if the story about DeAndre that broke last night is true, then I don’t see how anyone can want him to stay. It’s one thing to want off the team, but it’s a whole other thing to be telling your teammates and others that you are already looking towards next year. What does that do for the morale of a team who was fighting tooth and nail to make the playoffs?

By the way, this isn’t the first time we heard about DeAndre wanting to go to Houston, so I am feeling more inclined to believe this rumor.

Back in January, just a little over a week before Blake Griffin was traded, Stephen A. Smith reported that DJ wanted to go to Houston. We were skeptical, especially when nothing more was reported on it, but now it looks like there was fire where there was smoke.

DeAndre has been great for the team, but he is replaceable. (Hello Robert Williams, anyone?) There’s also the remote possibility that the Clips try and get Capela, who is arguably better and at the least, younger than Jordan.

Whatever the move is, it’s better than paying a soon to be 30 year old center who is dependent on his athleticism, can’t create his own shot and doesn’t seem to care. The Clippers seemed poised under the new front office to make smart moves.

We already moved on from Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, which both are looking to be the right decision. Let’s make one more. Let DeAndre Jordan go.