Rumor Roundup: Jordan Meets With Mavs; Clippers Express Interest in Multiple Free Agents

Tonight, free agency opened, and while for some teams, the big dominoes fell tonight, including maximum contracts for Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis to stay with the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans, respectively.  The other big move from the night was Al-Farouq Aminu, who signed with Portland for 4 years and $30 million dollars, a surprisingly high price tag that may indicate an expensive market for free agent small forward this year.

For the Clippers, however, tonight was full of whispers, not rumbles.  Their star free agent surprisingly moved his meeting with the Dallas Mavericks up to tonight, and the Clippers essentially have to stand pat until DeAndre Jordan makes his decision, because both their needs and tools can drastically change depending upon resolving his free agency.  If he leaves, the Clippers will have an obvious need at center and access to the full Mid-Level Exception (as long as they stay under the hard cap), and the possibility of receiving players back in a trade, one of whom could be Tyson Chandler, who would fill the aforementioned hole at the center position.  If Jordan stays, the Clippers need to focus on backup bigs and small forwards, and only have the Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception and minimum salaries to do so with, barring a trade.

Once that first 7-foot-tall domino falls for the Clippers, they'll be free to pursue other names.  They've reportedly made a call to Gerald Green from the Phoenix Suns.  They also are reportedly interested in small forward Wesley Johnson (who Doc Rivers met with tonight), big man Brandan Wright and point guard C.J. Watson.  Paul Pierce, who the Clippers have been connected to in rumors for weeks now, appears to be leaning towards a return to the Wizards.

On Wednesday, DeAndre Jordan will meet with the Lakers and Knicks, and on Thursday he will have his final meeting with the Clippers.  Then, once he decides where he will be playing next season, the real news can start coming in for the Clippers.  Jordan's meeting with the Mavericks supposedly "went well", but every meeting goes well this time of year.  No deal was made tonight, which is expected as Jordan will do his due diligence over the next few days before deciding whether he will return to the Clippers or find a new NBA home.