LA Clippers center DeAndre Jordan has opted out of the $24.1 million player option on his contract for the 2018-19 season, and league sources told ESPN that the decision clears the way for him to likely sign a free-agent deal with the Dallas Mavericks.
Jordan and the Mavericks aren't allowed to discuss or negotiate a deal until free agency begins at 12:01 a.m. ET Sunday, but both sides are well past Jordan's change of heart on a Dallas free-agency commitment in 2015 and prepared to partner together, league sources said.
In recent days, the Clippers and Mavericks were unable to come to terms on a sign-and-trade agreement to move Jordan to Dallas, but the Mavericks have $27 million in salary-cap space -- and the ability to create more -- to sign Jordan and possibly add others in free agency.