Here’s how the DeAndre Jordan decision might help the Celtics
The Los Angeles Clippers are the big winners in the DeAndre Jordan saga, but the Boston Celtics also stand to benefit considerably from Jordan’s decision to spurn the Dallas Mavericks in free agency.
The Celtics own the Mavericks first-round pick in 2016 as part of the Rajon Rondo trade, a trade that looks better and better for Celtics general manager Danny Ainge with each new development. Jae Crowder, a throw-in piece originally, has blossomed in Boston and signed a new five-year contract this offseason. Rondo has moved on to Sacramento.
The draft pick is Top 7 protected, meaning the Mavericks get to keep the pick if it falls in the top seven. That’s a better possibility without Jordan than with him, but a Jordan-less Mavericks team narrowly missing the playoffs and sending a late lottery pick to Boston seems to be the best case scenario right now for the Celtics. The worst case scenario — Dallas contending for an NBA championship and sending Boston a pick in the late twenties — is a longshot at best without Jordan.
Dallas agreed to a four-year max contract with Jordan last week, but couldn’t make the signing official until Thursday, July 9th. Jordan had a change of heart and opted to sign back with the Clippers instead. The Mavericks are understandably infuriated.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban hinted at the Mavericks possibly tanking next season if he couldn’t sign Jordan and Wes Matthews in free agency. Matthews honored his commitment to Dallas and joins Dirk Nowitzki, Chandler Parsons, and company, but Dallas lost rim protector Tyson Chandler to Phoenix and have a hole in the middle without Jordan.
The first-round pick Dallas owes Boston rolls over (with Top 7 protection) every season through 2020, and then becomes unprotected in 2021.
Rajon Rondo’s 2014-15 season in review
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