NBA free agency is always a stressful time for fans, players, and NBA execs. There is the promise of new talent joining your favorite team or the opposite with a well-loved player leaving a city that does not offer him what wants anymore. This story has twists and turns throughout and leaves not just fans scratching their heads but players as well. As for me, I love free agency because it is fueled with drama and elbow-rubbing from player to player. For those of you who don’t know what free agency is let me explain. Free agency is a time where NBA teams shop for the best available player and hopefully attract him to a new home. Subsequently, this is a time where NBA players have the opportunity to test their market value and team up with other superstars for the chance at glory in the form of an NBA title. The story I’m about to tell you involves many players, a back-out, a kidnapping (sort of), and one pissed off Mark Cuban. SO please sit back put your feet up and enjoy.
This story has a lot of moving parts so let’s start with some of the most mentionable names. First, we have Clippers star up-and-coming Center DeAndre Jordan who this whole fiasco surrounds. Next, we have the other two of the Clippers Big 3 in Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. These two are certainly way more well-known, but some tumultuous years riddled with injuries put a strain on all three’s relationship. Next is the Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. So most of the cast is set (we will get a few cameos from other players as well) all we need is the stage for this soap opera of a free agency. Well here’s the stage. In the 2014-2015 NBA season, the Los Angeles Clippers posted one of the best records in the NBA with a 56-26 record which put them 3rd in the playoff race. In the first round, the Clippers bested the defending NBA Champion Spurs in 7 games with Chris Paul’s game-winning layup with 1 second left on the clock. Next came the Houston Rockets and the formidable James Harden. The Clippers jumped out to a 3-1 lead over the Rockets but eventually, The Beard took over and they ended up losing in 7 and missing out on what would have been the franchise’s first Western Conference Finals appearance. As the season ends so does DeAndre Jordan’s contract. Rumors of discontent with fellow teammate Chris Paul left many to wonder if he would come back. Well, Dallas and owner Mark Cuban wanted a piece of Jordan and was intent on offering him a contract. That is exactly what the Mavericks did. They offer Jordan a new contract to come to play for the team along-side an aging Dirk Nowitzki. Jordan initially agreed with Dallas and verbally agreed to sign the contract. The thing is Jordan verbally agreed on July 3rd and the contract could not be signed until July 9th. Yah know those crazy NBA rules were back at it again.
This is where the story becomes really interesting. It’s ladled with controversial emojis and an even more controversial meeting at Jordan’s house. Apparently, players sub-tweeting in the NBA was all the rage in 2015, and trust me there was plenty of that going on. Just a bunch of weird plane emojis and out of context tweets had the sports media rolling in gold over this free agency signing. Mavericks star Chandler Parsons fueled to this with his own emojis hoping that this would finally get Jordan away from the sunny skies of LA. So to make sure that Jordan did not leave, no so Jordan did not get an audience with anyone from the Mavericks some Clippers players just showed up to his house and weren’t about to let their star center just waltz out of there. Blake Griffin along with other players from the Clippers organization met with Jordan and eventually got him to back out of the deal. Apparently, when they arrived Jordan was already feeling the pressure of not resigning with the team that drafted him and they all just eventually started playing cards per some rumors. The team stayed there until midnight so the contract with the Mavs could not be signed. The Clippers had their defensive star back and Dallas was at a loss of words.
The funny part of this story comes from DeAndre Jordan’s apparent inability to pick up the phone and answer Mark Cuban’s calls. Yes, that’s right Cuban spent that night ringing Jordan trying to get a conversation with him and Jordan simply did not pick up. Imagining billionaire Cuban driving around furious as to his voice not being heard is almost priceless imagery. Alas, all was said and done and Jordan remained a Clipper. The crazy thing is that Jordan eventually signed a one-year deal with the Mavs in 2018 (smell some guilt?), but his career has sort of flounder as a defensive guy coming off the bench. The Clippers never reached the top of the NBA mountain and free agency will never be the same.
This story was wild and I hope you all enjoyed the wild ride. If you have heard of some weird free agency dealings leave a comment, and always see y’all next time, James.
The Weird, Wacky, and Sometimes Wonderful NBA 