Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan a highly sought-after prospective free agent
The phone calls, dinners and just general hanging out have become commonplace for DeAndre Jordan, all of it being done as a recruiting tool directed at the Clippers center.
Jordan will become one of the most sought-after unrestricted free agents when the free-agency period opens Tuesday night at 9 PDT.
Jordan’s first meeting will be on Wednesday with the Dallas Mavericks at the Beverly Hills offices of his representative, Relativity Sports, said NBA officials who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Jordan will meet with the Lakers and then the New York Knicks later in the day, the official said.
The Clippers, who will have Coach Doc Rivers, owner Steve Ballmer and a video presentation, will be the last team to meet with Jordan on Thursday, the officials said.
Jordan has gotten a call from Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, the officials said. Bryant wanted Jordan to know the Lakers are interested.
Jordan had dinner with Rivers recently in Malibu. And Rivers wasn’t alone. Actor Jamie Foxx joined Rivers and Jordan, the officials said.
Jordan and teammate Chris Paul attended an event Saturday in Santa Monica along with plenty of other NBA players, the officials said.
The two talked, the officials said, and it was perhaps the first step in Jordan and Paul’s repairing a season-long strain in their relationship.
Jordan also has recently gotten a call from New York forward Carmelo Anthony, the officials said. Anthony wanted Jordan to know the Knicks want his services too.
He has been hanging out with Dallas forward Chandler Parsons in Houston, the officials said. The conversations have been about Jordan joining the Mavericks, who are viewed as having the strongest chance of luring him away from the Clippers.
Jordan, who will turn 27 on July 21, 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.
He could then sign a five-year extension with the Clippers after next season for about $143 million.
broderick.turner@latimes.com
Twitter:@BA_Turner
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