OAKLANDThe Warriors made it official on Sunday: They are trying to get bigger and if it costs a little money, so be it.
The Warriors signed center DeAndre Jordan to an offer sheet worth a reported 42.7 million over four years. Now they will wait up to three days to find out whether or not the L.A. Clippers will match the offer.
If the Clippers match the offer, Jordan goes back to the L.A.; if not, he becomes a Warrior and immediately becomes the teams tallest, most athletic player -- and its best shot-blocker.
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Whether or not the Clippers match the Warriors offer, Jordan will earn a salary this season in excess of 10 times the amount he earned last season. In other words, from under a million per year to close to 10 million per. The Contra Costa Times reported the terms of Jordan's offer sheet.
He is 7-foot-1 and only 23 years old. Last season Jordan averaged 7.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 25.6 minutes per game. He has little to no low post game but he rebounds, can rim-protect and can get up and down the court. The Warriors are hoping that he can turn into a dominant defensive center down the road.
Weve always known the key factors for our team to get better were to rebound, defend and block shots, Warriors general manager Larry Riley said.DeAndre Jordan has those. We feel strongly we will improve in those areas.
The Warriors were able to put together an offer sheet for Jordan without having to use the amnesty provision on current center Andris Biedrins. Instead, they will use it on Charlie Bell, seldom-used and now legally-embattled.
Golden State Warriors
It is possible the Warriors could have close to 20 million invested in two centers, neither of whom is consistent. Biedrins has had two awful years after being effective earlier in his career.
And while Jordans best years appear to be in front of him, he is a long way from being a big man you can count on.
Nevertheless, the Warriors can claimand rightfully sothat from a basketball standpoint they had to address size andmoney be darnedthey went ahead and did it.
Riley said the Warriors are unsure about whether the Clippers will match the offer. He also said the Warriors didnt necessarily make an offer that he believed the Clippers would not match but one Jordan deserved. According to other reports, the Clippers already have offered Jordan a five-year, 40 million deal.
Riley also intimated Jordan has expressed an interest in becoming a Warrior.
We more than likely wouldnt put an offer sheet (in front of) a player who expressed any interest in being someplace else. Were comfortable he wants to play herehave no doubts about that.