Clippers open talks with Gordon, Jordan

Post #1 » by **mkwest** » Thu Dec 1, 2011 12:28 am

The Los Angeles Clippers reached out to the representatives of guard Eric Gordon and center DeAndre Jordan early Wednesday morning to discuss a contract extension for Gordon and a new contract for Jordan, who is a restricted free agent, general manager Neil Olshey told ESPNLosAngeles.com.

"The first phone calls from our organization today were in regard to our own players," Olshey said. "We're committed to the core group we have. We've been building slowly and we're in a great position to capitalize on that now with our cap flexibility. But we know that our existing players are a priority."

Under the expected terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, which has yet to be ratified, Gordon would be eligible for a four-year extension on his rookie contract. Previously those type of extensions had to be completed by the beginning of the season, but because of the lockout, it's unknown when that deadline will be. If Gordon and the Clippers cannot come to an agreement on an extension, he would become a restricted free agent after this season, giving him the right to sign an offer sheet elsewhere that the Clippers could match.

A league source said Jordan's preference is to remain with the Clippers, but that he will entertain other offers and wouldn't hesitate to sign elsewhere.

Re-signing Jordan is also seen as an important to the Clippers longterm future because of his close relationship with forward Blake Griffin.

"If we put the pieces around Blake and DeAndre Jordan and Eric Gordon and the rest of the talent we have, that can win at a high level, that's what's going to impress everybody," Olshey said.

"We've made no secret that keeping this core group together and then building upon it, through free agency, through trades, through the draft, is how we're going to have sustainable success."

Ramona Shelburne, ESPN Los Angeles

Post #2 » by **mkwest** » Thu Dec 1, 2011 12:34 am

We want to maximize our cap room if we're going after free-agents next summer, but it's wise to try to hammer out an extension for Gordon now as opposed to waiting for his asking price to rise. Teams like Indiana are just waiting to pay big bucks for him in free-agency and to dare the Clippers to match. Re-signing DJ is a must, but inking up EJ long-term now makes everything else easier next summer.

Blake will be eligible for an extension and will have seen that this team is serious and committed to competing for the long-haul. We still have $19M in expiring contracts as well draft picks and prospects to offer in a trade. I know the media is running wild throwing Gordon's name in potential trade proposals, but it's still not out of the question that we can make a move while keeping him on the roster.

jflipclip · Post #3 » by **jflipclip** » Thu Dec 1, 2011 5:10 pm

Wiretap/LA Times says Gordon received extension offer and Clippers willing to match any offers Deandre gets. That's good news.

Post #4 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Thu Dec 1, 2011 5:47 pm

jflipclip wrote:Wiretap/LA Times says Gordon received extension offer and Clippers willing to match any offers Deandre gets. That's good news.

That is good news, I just hope that no team offers Jordan like $10 million a year. I don't know if I would feel comfortable matching that.

Det the Threat · Post #5 » by **Det the Threat** » Thu Dec 1, 2011 6:32 pm

Clippers Offer Gordon Four-Year Extension, Will Match Offers For DeAndre Jordan

Los Angeles Clippers general manager Neil Olshey said he spoke on Wednesday with Eric Gordon's agent, Rob Pelinka, about a four-year extension for his client. Pelinka didn't return phone calls seeking a comment.

Gordon, who averaged 22.3 points last season, is in the final year of a deal that pays him $3.8 million.

"Eric knows that he's a priority," Olshey said. "So does Rob, and so do we."

The Clippers also plan to match any offer center DeAndre Jordan, a restricted free agent, might get.

The Clippers have about $13 million to spend on free agents; they have a payroll of $45 million, far below the salary cap of $58 million.

Clippers Offer Gordon Four-Year Extension, Will Match Offers For DeAndre Jordan

madmaxmedia · Post #6 » by **madmaxmedia** » Thu Dec 1, 2011 9:13 pm

Our new GM is on the ball. He seems much more proactive than Elgin 'wait and see' Baylor. Baylor seemed like some guy who was basically Sterling's lackey (probably more Sterling's fault than Baylor's.)

I mean obviously Sterling signs the checks, but this is starting to feel like a real NBA basketball organization finally.

Post #7 » by **mkwest** » Thu Dec 1, 2011 10:45 pm

I'd love to know how much Gordon's extension is worth.

Superiorblogman · Post #8 » by **Superiorblogman** » Thu Dec 1, 2011 11:48 pm

So, what u gonna do with Kaman?

Post #9 » by **mkwest** » Fri Dec 2, 2011 12:26 am

For now, I'd assume that we would keep Chris until we can package him into a deal. I personally would like to see him coming off of the bench and providing a scoring punch with the second string.

RiversideClips · Post #10 » by **RiversideClips** » Fri Dec 2, 2011 2:28 am

Kaman on the 2nd Team w/ Bledsoe will really screw with the other NBA team's 2nd teams. Keep Kaman until some team over pays this season b/c he is the missing link of a playoff.

MoLakers · Post #11 » by **MoLakers** » Fri Dec 2, 2011 3:45 am

possibly kaman for s&t prince. read it somewhere.. works for both teams. prince comin back home, manning the 3. mo, ej, tay, blake, dj and hope for some monster trade for d12 or cp3. even without the monster trade, that 5 would be a real solid 5.

Det the Threat · Post #12 » by **Det the Threat** » Fri Dec 2, 2011 5:28 am

MoLakers wrote:possibly kaman for s&t prince. read it somewhere.. works for both teams. prince comin back home, manning the 3. mo, ej, tay, blake, dj and hope for some monster trade for d12 or cp3. even without the monster trade, that 5 would be a real solid 5.

Kaman's expiring contract would be needed for any of those "monster trades" and dealing him for an unrestricted agent like Prince would be really bad management, IMO.

Post #13 » by **thanumba2clippersfan** » Fri Dec 2, 2011 5:56 pm

Det the Threat wrote:
MoLakers wrote:possibly kaman for s&t prince. read it somewhere.. works for both teams. prince comin back home, manning the 3. mo, ej, tay, blake, dj and hope for some monster trade for d12 or cp3. even without the monster trade, that 5 would be a real solid 5.

Kaman's expiring contract would be needed for any of those "monster trades" and dealing him for an unrestricted agent like Prince would be really bad management, IMO.

Also if it's a S&T how much would Prince be signing for? He doesn't need to make over $5 Million imo

Det the Threat · Post #14 » by **Det the Threat** » Sun Dec 4, 2011 8:49 am

If the Los Angeles Clippers are content to have restricted free-agent center DeAndre Jordan bring them back an offer sheet to match, the line of suitors is long and serious, league executives said. The Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Hornets, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves are teams with salary-cap space considering multiyear offers for Jordan. …

Yahoo Free Agency update

RiversideClips · Post #15 » by **RiversideClips** » Mon Dec 5, 2011 12:51 am

I would love to get Prince, but let him come as a FA, we don't need to give anything up for him.
The great thing about the Clips is that a lot of players want to play w/ Blake, they see the future of something Great!

Post #16 » by **mkwest** » Mon Dec 5, 2011 1:00 am

The Clippers are likely to wait for Jordan, a restricted free agent, to get an offer sheet.

Sean Deveney, of Sporting News, noted in his Twitter feed that Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan has enough suitors to make the Clippers nervous. He lists the Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Hornets as teams with interest.

The Clippers are likely to wait for Jordan, a restricted free agent, to get an offer sheet. They’d have three days to match (under the new rules) and if the numbers are reasonable, they intend to retain DJ.

Should Jordan get too massive an offer, they may decide instead to stick with incumbent center Chris Kaman. Kaman is in the last year of his contract and not thrilled at the notion of splitting time in LA with DeAndre.

Chris is trade bait for the Clippers as they look to add star power and/or an elite small forward. If Kaman is sent out, the Clippers are mindful that they need a capable third big in his place. To that end, they’re not willing to overpay a role player in what could be an expensive market.

Eric Pincus, HoopsWorld

Det the Threat · Post #17 » by **Det the Threat** » Mon Dec 5, 2011 5:49 am

It's only hoopsworld, but uh-oh.

Though, I'm not really sure on DJ and I also believe that it's the best way to go, to let the market dictate his price.
Of course it would be nice to talk to him and sign him outright, before anyone else gets a chance at him, but that would be bidding against ourselves and we can always match the offer sheet he receives.

And if some team really does make him an insane offer(Kaaaahhn), then I wouldn't want to match it anyways, cause if someone's offering him something around $10(or more) per season for the next four years, then they'll unbelieveably overpay for him and I wouldn't want us to be the team that does so.

BTW:

Jerry Zgoda: Yahoo!Sports reports that Wolves are 1 of 7 teams set to speak w/ UFA Jamal Crawford on Mon, are 1 of 5 teams that may make DeAndre J offer 3 minutes ago

I think the biggest problem with Jordan isn't us maybe losing him, it's the replacement guy we've currently got. I mean, just imagine....the starting center for your Los Angeles Clippers, today on crutches, Chris Kaman... :-?

scratch21 · Post #18 » by **scratch21** » Mon Dec 5, 2011 8:06 am

it would suck to lose DJ

Post #19 » by **og15** » Mon Dec 5, 2011 4:45 pm

Letting the market dictate the price is the best option, but obviously that can be dangerous. I think it should work out for a reasonable contract for DJ though. He really shouldn't get anything crazy, but some Gms like to be dumb.

Post #20 » by **mkwest** » Tue Dec 6, 2011 6:45 am

Letting the market dictate his price could interfere with signing a free-agent if we haven't secured them before DJ is offered an offer sheet.