Second Thoughts

Jordan's time runs out in LA

DeAndre Jordan is leaving the Los Angeles Clippers for the Dallas Mavericks, where he is expected to sign a four-year contract worth $80 million, because it is suggested he never felt appreciated by many in the organization, including All-Star guard Chris Paul.
DeAndre Jordan is leaving the Los Angeles Clippers for the Dallas Mavericks, where he is expected to sign a four-year contract worth $80 million, because it is suggested he never felt appreciated by many in the organization, including All-Star guard Chris Paul.

DeAndre Jordan was ready to step out of the shadows of Los Angeles.

Jordan is leaving the Los Angeles Clippers and is expected to officially sign a four-year, $80 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks once free agents can sign with new teams Thursday.

But Jordan's decision to leave the Clippers for the Mavericks may be rooted in part because of his relationship with Clippers guard Chris Paul, or lack of one.

ESPN NBA writer Kevin Arnovitz suggests that's the case for Jordan's departure from Los Angeles.

"The Los Angeles Clippers returned from their longest trip of the season in February having lost five of their eight games. But DeAndre Jordan posted some of the best numbers of his career over the stretch, including a 22-point, 27-rebound, 3-block effort in a win at Dallas to finish the trip," Arnovitz wrote.

"The core of the team had been together for more than three years, and tempers were wearing thin. Jordan and Chris Paul had gotten into it more than once, which led Jordan to start seriously contemplating what it might be like to play elsewhere in 2015-2016.

"He was tired of Paul's constant barking and petty gestures, like distributing high-fives to the three other guys on the floor following a timeout but somehow freezing out Jordan. Optics aside, the biggest issue for Jordan was that, despite the leaps and bounds he made to be named first team all-defense, the Clippers always treated him like the player he was when he arrived in the NBA, and never like the player he'd become."

Jordan averaged 11.5 points and 15.0 rebounds per game last season for the Clippers, who advanced to the Western Conference semifinals. In seven seasons, Jordan has averaged 8.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

Making the call

NFL business analyst Andrew Brandt filled in for columnist Peter King on King's weekly Monday Morning Quarterback column on TheMMQB.com on Monday and told a story from his days as the Green Bay Packers vice president.

Brandt had to call in a trade to the NFL, but his cell phone battery ran out. He was in a Wisconsin state park and asked to use a park ranger's phone.

"I said I was making a trade for the Packers and needed to use his phone to complete it," Brandt wrote. "He laughed me off. 'Making a trade for the Packers? That's a good one.' I then told him the terms of the trade -- we were trading defensive linemen David Bowens to Buffalo for tight end Bobby Collins -- and said I had to use his phone.

"He hesitated and then replied: 'Wait, we're trading Bowens? Why are we trading Bowens?!' Packer fans are a special breed."

Brandt was the Packers vice president from 1999 to 2008. He is currently working for ESPN and is a contributing writer to TheMMQB.com.

He said it

From Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald:

• "The Baltimore Orioles agreed to sign Cuban pitcher Ariel Miranda. Will the last baseball player left in Cuba please turn out the lights?"

• "Someone has to say it. Matt 'Megatoad' Stonie vs. Joey Chestnut was greater than Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao."

• "On Monday, Mike Riley turns 62. Even though he hasn't coached a game at Nebraska, I'm pretty sure this is a statewide holiday."

SPORTS QUIZ

Who are the three teams that have never lost an NFC Championship Game?

ANSWER

New York Giants (5-0), Seattle Seahawks (3-0) and Arizona Cardinals (1-0)

Sports on 07/07/2015

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