By all accounts, the Dallas Mavericks failed this season. The team had lofty expectations when they signed Chandler Parsons and brought back Tyson Chandler. Those got even bigger when they traded for Rajon Rondo in the middle of the season. That all resulted in a first-round exit in the playoffs. Now the team plans to make some major moves this offseason which do not include Rondo, but could easily involve DeAndre Jordan.
With Chandler approaching free agency, the Mavericks are going to look around for a big man. According to the Dallas Morning News, re-signing Chandler is Plan B for the franchise while Plan A including younger names. The Mavericks have freedom in the salary cap which means they can target a huge name on the market and Jordan is their No. 1 target.
According to Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com, the Mavericks are looking to negotiate a sign-and-trade that would see the team giving up both Chandler and Raymond Felton for Jordan. Los Angeles Clippers fans might not favor this deal. Jordan has been crucial to the franchise's growth over the past few seasons. Head coach Doc Rivers made it clear the team will offer a max contract, but team sources believe Jordan already has one foot out of the door. The plus side in this deal for Los Angeles is they would be getting two players that while they are hit and miss, they will come cheap which would allow the Clippers to have more flexibility in the offseason.
The interest in Jordan comes after Michael Wallace of ESPN.com reported the Mavericks are ready to offer Marc Gasol a max deal or they will target LaMarcus Aldridge to join his hometown team. Both players are going to be heavily recruited in free agency including max contract offers from their current respective teams. The Mavericks have a team in place that can succeed with one more star and that might entice at least one of them to sign on.
The Mavericks will still need to replace Rondo who is expected to be on his way out. The Dallas Morning News reported that Goran Dragic or Reggie Jackson remain options while Parsons will try and recruit Patrick Beverley who will be a restricted free agent with the Houston Rockets.
"I hear from Chandler every day," Beverley said, via the Houston Chronicle. "It's hard, but I try not to think about it. I can't talk about contracts. It's going to be a fun summer. I have put myself in a position to be set for life and that's something that I never thought was possible growing up."
