The Cleveland Cavaliers have been linked to DeAndre Jordan leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, but they don’t seem to be a good match for the Los Angeles Clippers as a trade partner. A third team could potentially help with that.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Cavs and Clippers have continued to discuss a potential Jordan deal, and they are searching for a third team to involve in the talks.
The Clippers and Cavaliers continue to discuss the possibility of a trade centered on DeAndre Jordan, including conversations with potential third teams to help create a pathway to a deal, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018
That makes senses, as the Clippers are looking to rebuild and probably don’t want to take on the types of big contracts the Cavs are looking to shed. If a third team is interested in players like Tristan Thompson and/or J.R. Smith, Cleveland and L.A. may be able to find a solution.
Of course, Jordan is said to be hurting the Clippers’ chances of trading him with his unwillingness to opt into his contract for the 2018-2019 season. Cleveland also may not want to make a huge deal at the deadline if their crumbling team is destined to fall apart this offseason.
