Mark Cuban: Mavericks see DeAndre Jordan as 'Shaq-like'
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said on the radio show The Ticket that his team sees new center DeAndre Jordan as “Shaq-like,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
The Mavericks and Jordan agreed to a four-year contract worth in excess of $80 million on Friday, after Jordan reportedly spent several days deciding between going to Dallas or staying with the Los Angeles Clippers.
”We see him as ‘Shaq-like’ but never having been given the opportunity,” Cuban told The Ticket. “We told him if he came to the Mavs, he would be a focal point. He would grow into being a franchise player.”
Cuban said the Mavericks told Jordan that they see him as capable of being “20–20 guy” who has not yet been given the opportunity.
• GOLLIVER: Mavs dodge disaster, lure Jordan away from Clippers
Jordan averaged 11.5 points and 15.0 rebounds in 2014–15 for the Clippers. He had four games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds, two of which came when forward Blake Griffin did not play.
After telling The Ticket that Jordan was “like the eighth option” for Los Angeles, Cuban said Dallas can use him as its first option since forward Dirk Nowitzki no longer wants that role.
The Mavericks lost free-agent center Tyson Chandler on Wednesday, when he agreed to a four-year deal with the Phoenix Suns.
• GOLLIVER: After missing out on glitzy star, Knicks sign solid Lopez
Dallas finished 50–32 last season, losing to the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.
- Molly Geary
