With DeAndre Jordan considering whether to turn down his 2018/19 player option and test free agency this summer, the Rockets are believed to be one of his preferred destinations, sources tell Kelly Iko of Rockets Wire.
One source tells Iko that Jordan spoke to several Rockets players throughout the 2017/18 season to express his interest in playing for his hometown team. The last time he hit free agency in 2015, Jordan agreed to play for the Mavericks, a team in his home state, before pulling out of the agreement to re-sign with the Clippers.
After a now-infamous postgame locker room altercation between Rockets and Clippers players in January, Jordan interacted with several Rockets players on their team bus to voice his frustration with Los Angeles, Iko’s source claimed. A few weeks later, Blake Griffin was shipped to Detroit as the Clippers shifted their strategy.
Jordan, 29, enjoyed a strong season with the Clippers, averaging 12.0 PPG and 15.2 RPG in 77 games. While those numbers are strong, the Rockets appear committed to 24-year-old restricted free agent Clint Capela at center. Team owner Tilman Fertitta has said that Houston will match any offer sheet extended to Capela, so unless the team has a change of heart, Jordan does not have a direct path to the Rockets.
If the Rockets get Jordan somehow and re-sign Paul, Lebron is a lock for Houston. If Houston trots our a lineup of
Paul-Harden-Lebron-Tucker-Jordan
RIP NBA lol
Except is Jordan really all that much better than Capela? Capela is younger and posting pretty good numbers himself. Capela may be the better option for Houston.
For real. I would take capela any day when they are each at this point in their career. No way jordan ends up with the rockets.
All Lebron has to do to destroy the NBA is join Golden State, and they would put a monopoly on the NBA championship. But for real we can at least appreciate Lebron would never doing such a thing.
You never know , if KD has a change of heart and decides to go somewhere else , maybe there is a spot of Lebron with a short 2 years contract – Nah! Lebron wouldn’t do that !
If they sign Jordan they won’t have money for Lebron. They basically gotta dump everyone on their roster to get Lebron.
It’s funny how folks forget reality.
Capela>
I’d much rather have Capela than DJ. Basically a younger version.
If Capela gets a max-type offer, DJ would be cheaper, would help them sign CPaul plus. Could happen. But DJ should give Jerry West a chance.
Cannot see it. Cannot play together, both too expensive to share the minutes half/half, so if they keep Capela, DJ ain’t gonna Houston, if they let walk Capela then if DJ drops his price, yes he might go home. Either way don’t think whichever they have changes much in respect Golden State… if they had the money for a big like DMC, then yes they destroy Golden State any day of the week & twice on Sundays.
Let me get this straight… The altercation was just that No One wanted to play for the Clippers anymore?
CP3 stays and wants DJ, Capela gets paid to go elsewhere
Simple. Trade Ryan Anderson + 2023 or 2024 1st round pick (Harden is 33/34 and UFA) for DJ.
Let Capela sign elsewhere. Re-sign CP3.
What a steal for the clippers.
Trading 1st rounders that far down the road is dangerous
I’d much rather have Jordan than resign Capela
-Rockets Fan
– no rockets fan ever*
If he turns down his option, there is no realistic path to Houston unless he’s willing to play for the Taxpayer MLE. He’d have to do what Paul did last year and opt in and then be traded on a 1 year deal with no security. LeBron (as long as we’re in a fantasy world) would have to do the same.