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LA Clippers: Is there really a fit for DeAndre Jordan in today’s NBA?

By Deanna Chapman

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 17: DeAndre Jordan #6 of the LA Clippers reacts to a call by officials during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on November 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Clippers 118-113 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 17: DeAndre Jordan #6 of the LA Clippers reacts to a call by officials during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on November 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Clippers 118-113 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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DeAndre Jordan is effective around the rim, but is that a good fit with today’s NBA? Should he stay with the LA Clippers or move on to another team?

DeAndre Jordan is part of a group of centers who aren’t quite as relevant in the NBA as they once were. The game used to be dominated by big men, and now there’s an infusion of small ball that is passing through the league.

A prime example of that is how the Golden State Warriors play. The LA Clippers did defeat them in their most recent meeting, January 10. The final score was 125-106. However, that win wasn’t really due to DeAndre Jordan.

He had a double-double with 12 rebounds and 10 points, but it was Lou Williams who went off and scored 50 points while Tyrone Wallace contributed 22. Golden State’s injuries aside, the Clippers came away with an unlikely win. It was also their first win against the team since 2014.

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DeAndre Jordan isn’t a center who is known for extending the floor much. He’s at his best when he’s right around the rim and either dunking on people or getting some put-backs. So where exactly does in fit in the present NBA climate?

There’s absolutely still a use for players like DeAndre Jordan. They just won’t be affective against every team. Against teams that don’t have things totally figured out, DeAndre Jordan can dominate. But he’s been consistently less effective against teams like the Warriors and even the San Antonio Spurs. In the previous game against the Warriors, before the Clippers came away with a win, Jordan ended the night with a plus/minus of -24 and in their last game against the Spurs (12/18/2017), he finished with a plus/minus of -20.

There’s certainly a pattern when it comes to his play. The LA Clippers best bet would be to use him more against teams like the Charlotte Hornets or Sacramento Kings. While he might not always have a positive plus/minus at the end of the game, he typically performs better against teams who don’t have their system down pat. He’s more disruptive in those instances.

There’s also the possibility that he’d be a better fit on a different team, too. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski recently wrote about the future of DeAndre Jordan.

"Because so few elite teams, if any, play through the center position offensively, there’s less of an urgency to exhaust trade assets on Jordan before seeing who else might join the trade market. Milwaukee has been determined to find a center, and Jordan tops the Bucks’ list, but it’s unclear whether they have a package to eventually make the deal."

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The Bucks are certainly an interesting option should the Clippers trade Jordan. There’s no way they give up Giannis, so they’d have to offer the Clippers a whole lot for Jordan. It’s really all about Jordan finding the best fit for his style of play and it’s unclear whether or not that place still lies with the Clippers.