NBA free agency: DeAndre Jordan nearing a deal with Dallas

DeAndre Jordan met with the Clippers on Thursday, as the team hopes to retain the center. (Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer)

DeAndre Jordan met with the Clippers on Thursday, as the team hopes to retain the center. (Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer)

DeAndre Jordan is nearing a decision that will make a ripple effect in Los Angeles far more thunderous than one of his dunks.

Jordan will agree to a four-year, $80 million to the Dallas Mavericks, according to multiple reports, leaving the Clippers without a star center they want to retain and the Lakers without a star center they wanted to obtain.

It was expected that Jordan would decide between either the Clippers or Mavericks. He had entered free agency giving the Clippers a “a slight edge,” according to a league source familiar with his thinking, because of his development there during his seven-year career and affection for coach Doc Rivers. Jordan also would have made $108 million through five years with the Clippers.

But Jordan walked away from his meetings Dallas impressed with their pitch, most notably on the basketball end. After meeting with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on Tuesday evening, Jordan visited the Mavericks for a 4 1/2 hours on Wednesday. Then, Jordan had met with Cuban, president Donnie Nelson, coach Rick Carlisle, forward Dirk Nowitzki and forward Chandler Parsons.

Meanwhile, Jordan found the Lakers “very professional” and considered their two-hour meeting on Wednesday night a “strong presentation,” a league source familiar with the situation. But the Lakers are coming off worst record in L.A. franchise history. Jordan also ruled out the New York Knicks, who only went 17-65 last season.

That leaves the Lakers officially empty handed again after also striking out on Detroit center Greg Monroe and failing to retain forward Ed Davis. The Lakers had a second meeting on Thursday with Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge, but he is believed to be favoring San Antonio.

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