Why did DeAndre Jordan call Doc Rivers to say he was having second thoughts about joining the Dallas Mavericks? Possibly because his agent steered him towards the Southwest Division team.
A few reports say Jordan’s rep, Dan Fegan, pushed him to sign with the Mavs. ESPN’s Michael Eaves says Fegan is buddies with Mavericks owner and that Fegan may have wanted to deliver Jordan to the Mavs to make up for his previous client, Dwight Howard, signing with the Rockets instead of the Mavericks:
Feeling within DJ’s family is that Dan Fegan was pushing DJ to sign with Mavs. Fegan also represents Parsons and is tight with Cuban.
— Michael Eaves (@michaeleaves) July 8, 2015
Fegan also reps Dwight Howard, who Cuban expected to get last summer. Belief is that Fegan was trying to do a makeup for Mavs with DJ.
— Michael Eaves (@michaeleaves) July 8, 2015
A report by ESPN’s Arash Markazi says that Fegan’s interference is a reason they bypassed him in talking with Jordan Wednesday:
Clippers felt Jordan was being pushed to sign with Dallas by his reps. They bypassed normal channel of communication for this meeting.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 8, 2015
Eaves also reported that Fegan tried to push Rivers to trade CP3 in order for Jordan to return to the Clippers, which could have influenced Jordan’s decision. But another reporter denied Fegan made that condition:
Source: Was told Dan Fegan asking Doc Rivers to trade @CP3 in order for DeAndre Jordan to stay “is very much not true and ridiculous.”
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) July 8, 2015
If this information is accurate, it would explain why Jordan had cold feet about his decision. Though what the Clippers are doing is considered against good industry practice, you can’t blame Jordan for wanting to ensure he signs with the team he wants to be with, nor can you blame the Clippers for pursuing him.
I think we also now know the source of some of those DeAndre Jordan story leaks, too.
