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Free agent DeAndre Jordan to meet with Dallas Mavericks today

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan steals the ball from Miami Heat forward Chris Andersen during a game at Staples Center on Jan. 11.

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan steals the ball from Miami Heat forward Chris Andersen during a game at Staples Center on Jan. 11.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Clippers center DeAndre Jordan became a free agent on Tuesday night and his first official meeting with a possible new team was scheduled for Wednesday morning with the Dallas Mavericks.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, general manager and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson, and small forward Chandler Parsons were expected to attend the meeting.

The Mavericks are widely considered the Clippers’ biggest competition for Jordan, though they will be fighting an uphill battle, considering Jordan has been with the Clippers his entire seven-season career, Dallas is a much smaller marker than L.A., and the Clippers were a better team last season than the Mavericks.

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But the Mavericks would be able to offer Jordan a more prominent role in the team’s offense, while Jordan has to share the limelight with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul on the Clippers. Also Jordan reportedly has a conflict with Paul, though Clippers Coach Doc Rivers denies there’s any tension between the two, saying in May that “they get along great.” Jordan and Paul also apparently talked at an event in Santa Monica on Saturday.

The Clippers would be able to offer Jordan more money than any other team -- a five-year, $108-million contract. The Mavericks, and the other teams pursuing Jordan, would be able to offer him a maximum of four years and $80 million. But Jordan would not have to pay state income taxes in Texas, which pretty much negates the money difference if he chose the Mavericks.

Last season, Jordan led the NBA in rebounding (15 a game) and field-goal percentage (71%). He also averaged a career-high 11.5 points a game, and four times had at least 20 points and 20 rebounds.

Rivers, however, said much of what Jordan does doesn’t even show up on stat sheets, such as the shots he alters and prevents because of his defensive presence.

“He’s a great guy to coach, he’s smart as heck and he’s just one of those guys as a coach you want next to you,” Rivers said during exit interview in May.

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