Houston isnt finished closing the gap against Golden State. If not for a hamstring injury to CP3 Houston might have won that seven game Western Conference Finals series against the Warriors. Now, according to Kelly Iko of USA Todays Rockets Wire, Los Angeles Clippers high-flying center DeAndre Jordan reportedly wants to chase championship glory with the Rockets and reunite with his former point guard Paul.
SLAM Magazine on Twitter
DeAndre Jordan is focused on the possibility of joining the Houston Rockets, according to @KellyIkoNBA https://t.co/BdRsGs4xWM
Iko says Jordan has remained focused on the possibility of playing” in his hometown of Houston. The report said Jordan expressed his interest to return to The Lone Star State to multiple Rockets players. According to Iko, Jordan even talked to several Houston players after the Rockets and Clippers’ infamous locker room altercation following a January game and pointed to his “frustration” with Los Angeles and preference to play elsewhere.
Kelly Iko on Twitter
BREAKING: According to sources, immediately following the Clippers-Rockets altercation in January, Deandre Jordan expressed frustration and desire to play in Houston to multiple players on the team bus. He’s stated intent throughout the year. https://t.co/jIcMq6KjoR
Jordan was once a vital part of CP3 and Blake Griffin’s Lob City show, but both players have since departed and hes been left to languish on a mediocre team in transition.
DeAndre Jordan Top 10 Career Dunks
To celebrate his birthday (July 21), we count down DeAndre Jordan’s Top 10 Dunks for the LA Clippers! Subscribe to the NBA: http://bit.ly/2rCglzY For news, stories, highlights and more, go to our official website at http://www.nba.com Get NBA LEAGUE PASS: http://www.nba.com/leaguepass
With Jordan’s championship window in LA closed, hes looking to knock on Houstons door of opportunity. Jordan has a lucrative $24.1 million player option for 2018-19 that hes almost certain to decline in favor of a possible sign-and-trade with Clint Capela going to the Clippers.
Getting rid of Capela, who is five years younger than the 29-year-old Jordan is a risk for Houston, but Capela is still reaching his potential. In Jordan, Houston adds an established, two-time All-Defensive selection, three-time All-NBA selection and two-time rebounding champion who averaged 12.0 points and 15.2 rebounds a game this past season and can give Golden State fits on defense as well as the offensive boards.
If Houston can make that deal, it puts them one step closer to winning a title before CP3 retires and Harden loses his mind.
