Pacers Trade Rumors: An 11th Hour Bidding War for Hibbert?
By Dave McKee
The Highs and Lows of the DeAndre Jordan Saga
Will the Pacers trade Roy Hibbert to the Lakers? On July 4th it sounded certain but in the final hours of the NBA’s moratorium things got interesting. The DeAndre Jordan Saga’s that unfolded has a domino effect. Jordan contacted Clippers President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Doc Rivers on Friday stating he had second thoughts about leaving for Dallas.
Mavs, sources say, still have not heard directly from DeAndre Jordan since TUES and now concede there's zero hope of changing his mind again
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 9, 2015
It also did not hurt that the Clippers had initially offered him a 5-year deal worth $109 million. Whereas Jordan had agreed to sign with the Mavericks on a 4-year $80 million contract. But the ink has to dry first and the moratorium does not officially end until midnight. No contract was signed. So a retinue of Clippers players and executives visited Jordan’s home Friday Afternoon and essentially barricaded themselves in until midnight.
Really hoping that @NBATV can give us a live shot of DeAndre's front lawn this afternoon...
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 8, 2015
"The Clippers contingent included Rivers, team owner Steve Ballmer and players Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and Paul Pierce. Paul re-routed his travel itinerary to make the meeting after concluding a vacation in the Bahamas.”"
ESPN sources say Mavs owner Mark Cuban has begun to notify people within the organization that DeAndre Jordan is staying with Clippers
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 9, 2015
A day ago the cards were in Mark Cuban’s favor but apparently the deck was stacked against him. Without access to Jordan the Mavericks are stuck holding the cards.
Yahoo Source: Clippers, DeAndre Jordan meeting was short. It was clear he was returning to them. Then they started to play cards.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 9, 2015
With no big name centers remaining in free-agency the Mavericks will be forced to scramble to find a replacement. Or will they?