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ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith: DeAndre Jordan Wants to Be Traded to Houston Rockets

admin January 17, 2018 Rumors 1 Comment

DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan doesn’t hold a grudge against the Houston Rockets after they party-crashed the Los Angeles Clippers’ locker room on Monday night. In fact, according to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, it’s just the opposite: Jordan wants to be traded to Houston.

Here’s Smith talking about the big man’s apparent desires (via SI.com):

[https://twitter.com/SInow/status/953345573494673409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2754494-lingering-questions-following-bizarre-chris-paul-clippers-locker-room-fiasco]

This marks quite the deviation from Jordan’s own actions less than 48 hours ago. He was the first member of the Clippers ready to get at it when Chris Paul, James Harden, Gerald Green and Trevor Ariza barged their way into Los Angeles’ locker room, according to USA Today‘s Sam Amick:

Clippers big man DeAndre Jordan, who did not play because of an ankle injury, was the first to respond to the unwelcome visitors when he stood up from his nearby locker. Words were exchanged, with always-outspoken Clippers point guard Pat Beverley among the most vocal. With staff members closing the front door of the locker room so that Rockets in the hallway couldn’t enter from that direction, Clippers security officials intervened before any punches were thrown.

At the same time, Jordan’s interest in the Clippers isn’t ridiculous. His offensive numbers have suffered in the wake of Paul’s departure. He isn’t shooting an unfathomably high clip from the floor, and his pick-and-roll possessions are down significantly from last season, according to NBA.com. And while the Clippers are on the verge of cracking their way back into the Western Conference’s postseason picture, their reward for snagging the No. 8 seed will be a four-game sweep at the hands of the Golden State Warriors.

Jordan, who will both enter free agency and turn 30 this July, might simply want to latch on to a contender. Not only would he have a better shot at winning a title now, but he’d have a better time of raising his value prior to entering the open market.

Unfortunately for him, though, the Rockets don’t have much of an incentive to explore this situation. Clint Capela is younger and cheaper and, in some ways, arguably better. If the Clippers are willing to accept Ryan Anderson’s contract as part of any deal, talks could theoretically get somewhere. But even then, the Rockets would have to reconcile investing money in someone who’s nearly six years Capela’s senior.