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THE DEANDRE JORDAN ISSUE
NBA sources said they do not believe the Mavs will offer Jordan a multi-year deal after his contract expires in the offseason, which is what both he and his agent will want.
The Jordan the Mavs landed this offseason is no longer the same DeAndre Jordan they thought they had in the bag a few years ago when he said yes, and then no, in free agency.
Since he was at Texas A&M, he’s always been a better athlete than a basketball player. An NBA basketball player can age well. The NBA athlete does not age as well as the player.
Jordan’s strength is as supreme athlete who can run for a month, and jump to Jupiter. DAJ ranks second in the NBA in rebounding, at 14 per game. His problem isn’t rebounding. His problem is catching the ball on offense, and playing as a man who will be 31 this summer.
DAJ averages a double-double, and is a big reason why the Mavs are only two games under .500 with a shot of reaching the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
Letting Jordan walk will be considerably easier if the Mavs can find his replacement by moving DSJ right now.
Dennis Smith Jr. to the Pacers for Sabonis. Who says no?
Why for the Mavs
- they get a replacement for Jordan
- DSJ is a bad fit next to Doncic
Why for the Pacers
- they clear the logjam at the 5 (Sabonis + Myles Turner)
- they get a replacement for Collison (out of contract next summer, turns 32 in August)
Alternatively: Dennis Smith Jr. to the Pacers for Myles Turner. It's basically the same logic. Both trades work on the trade machine.
Btw, I'd love us to trade for either Sabonis or Turner. Let's say Rozier + pick(s) for either one of them (preferably for Sabonis cause Turner has signed a 4 year/72 million extension, hence our luxury tax would explode through the roof next season). Not confident that the Pacers would do it. Just saying.
You're clearly not valuing Sabonis on the right scale. The Pacers wouldn't let him go without a premium package. Probably something like Brown + Sac pick + another asset would be needed.
Wow! That would be a huge overpay in my book.
Sabonis has no 3-point range and he's about average from mid range. Not to mention he's a bad defender. I get that his trade value is sky high right now, but I don't think he's worth all those assets.
Rozier + Sac pick? Maybe.
Brown + Sac pick + other asset? No way I'd do that.