The Danger Of Reunions: The DeAndre Jordan Sweepstakes
Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2021 7:34 pm
We just saw the Clippers trade Beverley, Rondo and Oturu for Eric Bledsoe, a former Clipper who was an integral part of A Tribe Called Bench during the second year of the Paul-Griffin Lob City era. Doc Rivers traded him in a sign-and-trade three-team deal for J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley. Bledsoe on his own saw higher stats and more responsibility, but his impact as the Mini-LeBron, the unique ability to chase block, dunk and lob-jam were gone. With the Suns, he missed the playoffs every year. With the Bucks, he was blamed for all of their playoff shortcomings. With the Pelicans, he stopped caring. The hope is that a return to the Clippers will reinvigorate what Bledsoe had lost - but the reality is, he does much better as a role player coming off the bench than being a role starter.
No surprise then, we had this:
The Nets will look into either trading Jordan to another team to be bought out, or take the buyout themselves. Once Jordan clears waivers, one of the first sentences from news outlets will be "the Clippers are strong candidates to sign DeAndre Jordan for a reunion/second stint."
Reunions can be feel good stories for players set to retire after an illustrious career in the league, but only for that. Anything else, it's a sign of desperation. Clippers currently have Zubac who plays good but not great and suffered an injury in the last two games of their playoff run, and a veteran in Ibaka that is still healing up from his back injury. Cousins has yet to be re-signed. With the looks of their big man rotation looking slim, and the recent report/rumor of Hartenstein going overseas to play for FC Bayren Munich in Germany, the Clippers could be forced to play small ball for an indefinite amount of time until Ibaka heals or Cousins re-signs. Batum or Morris as center, good luck.
Jordan was the longest tenured Clipper ever, spanning 10 years. He's seen it all: the final years of DunLeavy, the drafting of Griffin, the trade of Paul and the start of Lob City era, Sterling's ouster, Ballmer's arrival, the 3-1 collapse to Rockets that saw him leave Clippers for Mavericks before changing his mind, the coming of Jerry West, the breakup of Paul-Griffin duo, his best friend Griffin shipped out for a rebuild. Clippers have always been tempted to trade Jordan, but they never went through with it - they loved him so much, they would rather let him walk instead of being compelled to trade him themselves, which is what eventually happened at the conclusion of the 2017-18 offseason.
Like Bledsoe, Jordan's impact hasn't been the same since he left the Clippers. If Jordan gets bought out, there is a good chance of the reunion cycle repeating, that a return to his first team will make him the electrifying role starter he once was. Do Clippers believe their best center was the one they should have never let go? After all the times Jordan was in rumor mill while on Clippers, will he go through that ride again? Have their issues mellowed out following the Blazers tie game mishap, the first 3-1 collapse to Rockets and his desire to want out? Could Kawhi Leonard and his Spursian Tim Duncan-style help mend their relationship?
But there's more, now you have to contend with Lakers:
If this comes to pass, it'll be the same thing like with Chris Paul: will Clippers be willing to defeat someone they once truly loved?
No surprise then, we had this:
The Nets will look into either trading Jordan to another team to be bought out, or take the buyout themselves. Once Jordan clears waivers, one of the first sentences from news outlets will be "the Clippers are strong candidates to sign DeAndre Jordan for a reunion/second stint."
Reunions can be feel good stories for players set to retire after an illustrious career in the league, but only for that. Anything else, it's a sign of desperation. Clippers currently have Zubac who plays good but not great and suffered an injury in the last two games of their playoff run, and a veteran in Ibaka that is still healing up from his back injury. Cousins has yet to be re-signed. With the looks of their big man rotation looking slim, and the recent report/rumor of Hartenstein going overseas to play for FC Bayren Munich in Germany, the Clippers could be forced to play small ball for an indefinite amount of time until Ibaka heals or Cousins re-signs. Batum or Morris as center, good luck.
Jordan was the longest tenured Clipper ever, spanning 10 years. He's seen it all: the final years of DunLeavy, the drafting of Griffin, the trade of Paul and the start of Lob City era, Sterling's ouster, Ballmer's arrival, the 3-1 collapse to Rockets that saw him leave Clippers for Mavericks before changing his mind, the coming of Jerry West, the breakup of Paul-Griffin duo, his best friend Griffin shipped out for a rebuild. Clippers have always been tempted to trade Jordan, but they never went through with it - they loved him so much, they would rather let him walk instead of being compelled to trade him themselves, which is what eventually happened at the conclusion of the 2017-18 offseason.
Like Bledsoe, Jordan's impact hasn't been the same since he left the Clippers. If Jordan gets bought out, there is a good chance of the reunion cycle repeating, that a return to his first team will make him the electrifying role starter he once was. Do Clippers believe their best center was the one they should have never let go? After all the times Jordan was in rumor mill while on Clippers, will he go through that ride again? Have their issues mellowed out following the Blazers tie game mishap, the first 3-1 collapse to Rockets and his desire to want out? Could Kawhi Leonard and his Spursian Tim Duncan-style help mend their relationship?
But there's more, now you have to contend with Lakers:
If this comes to pass, it'll be the same thing like with Chris Paul: will Clippers be willing to defeat someone they once truly loved?
