Sunday 5 July 2015 09:45, UK
The Dallas Mavericks have landed one of the most coveted NBA free agents of 2015 in former LA Clippers centre DeAndre Jordan.
The deal, which can't be sealed until the free agent signing period begins on July 9, is reportedly for four years and worth more than $81million, the maximum allowed under the salary cap.
The move to Dallas, where superstar Dirk Nowitzki is in the twilight of his career, will allow Jordan to take a lead role on a team.
With the Clippers he has played in the shadow of point guard Chris Paul and high-flying star Blake Griffin.
Jordan, who reportedly also seriously considered a move to the New York Knicks, will also be returning to the state where he played college basketball with Texas A&M.
Jordan, 26, led the NBA in rebounding in the last two seasons and in field-goal percentage for the last three seasons.
He's a notoriously poor free-throw shooter, but a sterling interior defender. Last season, he averaged 11.5 points and 15 rebounds.
In leaving the Clippers, Jordan departs the team where he spent the first seven years of his career.
Jordan becomes the second high-profile free agent to agree to join the Mavericks this week after they also reportedly agreed a four-year deal worth $64million with former Portland Trail Blazers guard Wes Matthews.
Matthews, one of the league's premier two-way guards, was on line to get a huge payday anyway this summer when he tore his Achilles in early March.
The 28-year-old is a career three-point shooter and is Portland’s all-time leading scorer in that category.
