Jordan’s status is a hot topic at camp

Excitement surrounded the Clippers on the first day of training camp Friday.

Excitement over having Blake Griffin back and ready. Excitement about having a healthy Eric Gordon and Chris Kaman. Excitement over having Caron Butler in the fold and excitement about the Clippers’ playoff possibilities.

And there is something that could take that excitement level even higher: getting free-agent DeAndre Jordan back on the team.

Jordan has been considering an offer from the Clippers and one that is expected to come from the Golden State Warriors.

The Clippers have said they will match any offer that Jordan, 6 feet 11 and 265 pounds, receives.

The Clippers reportedly have offered Jordan, who made $854,389 last season, a five-year deal worth more than $40 million. Executives around the NBA who are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter said Jordan might get a four-year, $42-million offer from the Warriors.

“I’m assuming he’ll be back here in uniform,” said Neil Olshey, the Clippers’ vice president of basketball operations. “But right now, I don’t control that part of the process. He’ll be back in here and he’ll be excited to be here, and I know this is where he wants to be.”

Griffin, Jordan’s best friend on the team, has been in contact with him. Griffin wants Jordan back.

“He’s got to take care of his business,” Griffin said. “I wish him the best. But he’s still very much a part of this team in our minds. So, we’ll see what happens.”

Butler happy to be a Clipper

Butler had been courted by the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs, but he felt the Clippers were the best team for him.

It didn’t hurt that he signed a three-year, $24-million deal with the Clippers.

But that wasn’t all for Butler, a 6-7 small forward who spent last season with the Dallas Mavericks.

“I wouldn’t have come here if we didn’t have a realistic shot at playing winning basketball and competing night in and night out,” Butler said. “We’ve got a great young nucleus and a mix of veteran guys. We’re ready to compete.”

Butler played in 29 games last season after undergoing surgery in January for a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee. He said he is healthy.

“He’s going to be great for us,” Griffin said. “I was really excited when I heard we were signing him. He’s going to bring a lot of scoring offensively and a lot of toughness.”

Bledsoe recovering from knee surgery

Clippers second-year guard Eric Bledsoe underwent surgery on torn cartilage in his right knee Oct. 7, the Clippers announced after practice Friday.

At the time of the surgery, Bledsoe was scheduled to sit out for six to eight weeks. That timetable has been exceeded, so it’s possible Bledsoe could be ready to practice soon.

broderick.turner@latimes.com