Clippers buy No. 56 pick Branden Dawson, turn focus to DeAndre Jordan

With the NBA draft over, the Clippers can turn their attention to unrestricted free-agent center DeAndre Jordan.

The Clippers bought a second-round pick from New Orleans and used the 56th selection to get Branden Dawson, a 6-foot-6 power forward from Michigan State. Dawson averaged 12.1 points and 9.0 rebounds in 32 games with the Spartans last season.

“He’s a little raw offensively,” said Clippers General Manager Dave Wohl, who spoke in place of Clippers Coach Doc Rivers. “But we love the competitiveness and the toughness about him.”

The Clippers’ main focus now is on keeping Jordan.

The season ended with Rivers denying reports Jordan and Chris Paul had a beef with each other.

But other NBA officials not authorized to speak publicly on the matter said there indeed is a rift between Jordan and Paul.

The officials said Jordan wants to be more involved in the offense and wants to be an All-Star, and he’s not sure whether those things can happen on the Clippers with All-Stars Paul and Blake Griffin.

Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons has been recruiting Jordan, the officials said. The two have been hanging out together in Jordan’s hometown of Houston.

When free agency starts at 9:01 p.m. PDT Tuesday, Jordan will be home in Houston.

The officials said four teams will visit Jordan at home — the Clippers, Lakers, Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks.

The Clippers can offer Jordan the most security.

He can sign a five-year maximum deal for $108 million with the Clippers. Other teams under the salary cap can offer Jordan a maximum deal of four years for $80 million, with an opt-out clause after the third season.

Jordan can also sign a two-year deal with the Clippers with a player option for after the 2016 season, giving him a starting salary of about $18.8 million for next season.

Follow Broderick Turner on Twitter @BA_Turner