Cleveland Cavaliers: Why a trade for DeAndre Jordan will never happen

The Cleveland Cavaliers executing a trade for DeAndre Jordan would be a questionable move, at best.

Strangely, there are those who – in the midst of nine-game win streak – are calling for the Cleveland Cavaliers to make a trade for DeAndre Jordan.

No doubt that Jordan’s play has allowed him to stand out among the crowd since being drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008. One of the most explosive athletes you’ll find at 6-foot-11 but Jordan isn’t just the typical high-flying finisher; his physical tools are pronounced but his defensive instincts are elite.

Jordan has been a Defensive Player of the Year candidate every year since the 2013-2014 season. Since that season, his third as a full-time starter, Jordan has averaged 11.7 points (while shooting 69.9 percent from the field), 14.0 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 0.8 steals per game. With an offensive rating of 125 and a defensive rating of 99, Jordan has been one of the best two-way players in the game despite his lack of low-post skills.

However, there’s the problem with bringing him to Cleveland. In a trade for Jordan, Tristan Thompson and a first-round pick (Cleveland’s own pick) would be at the base of the deal. Or, at least, the Cavs would be wise to make that the base of their deal considering the similarities in Thompson and Jordan’s games and the value of the Brooklyn Nets pick.

The problem with trading Thompson? First things first, LeBron James wouldn’t like that at all.

Thompson and James have been close since the former was in high school. As a result, they’ve developed a little brother-big brother bond that may not be exclusive to Thompson, as James has similar bonds with younger players, but its genuine. In addition, because of the playoff battles they’ve been through together (just think, Thompson has started in every NBA Finals series James has been in since returning to Cleveland), they have a fraternal bond that makes their relationship one that’s important to the chemistry of the locker room – and to James’ perception of the front office.

What message would it send to James that the team traded away one of the best rebounders in the NBA, a versatile defender, one of the mainstays of the team since James’ departure in 2010 and a player who simply does it takes and sacrifices what he has to for the team to win?

A player who brings genuine passion and much-need energy to the game.

Jordan is the better player.

Jordan would certainly be a better shot-blocker, as he averages 1.0 more block per game than Thompson for his career and has averaged 1.4 more blocks per game than Thompson since the 2013-2014 season. While Thompson has solid defensive instincts, is a vocal team defender and is naturally gifted in his timing as a shot-blocker (he averaged 2.4 blocks per game as a freshman at the University of Texas), Jordan just has the better physical profile. He’s taller than Thompson who is scraping 6-foot-10, has wingspan of 7-foot-6 compared to Thompson’s 7-foot-1 wingspan and is much quicker off of his feet than Thompson.

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In addition, the only area where Thompson has an advantage over Jordan is as a passer; while Jordan would be a more efficient and effective finisher in the pick-and-roll because of his pronounced leaping ability, Thompson is a better passer in the short roll.

However, would he be a better fit in the locker room? Especially for a team that would have to find a way to fit Thompson in the rotation without ruining the on-court chemistry and would have to do the same with him?

Considering that this is the same player who nearly left the Clippers in the 2015 offseason because he wanted a bigger role, probably not. Something tells me that Jordan, who hasn’t played fewer than 31.7 minutes per game since the 2013-2014 season would be okay playing 21.6 minutes a night, as Thompson is this season. A number that, with the stellar play of big men Jeff Green and Channing Frye in the second unit, could fall lower than what’s already a career-low in minutes for him.

It would be one thing if Jordan had a go-to offense but he doesn’t.

In the low-post, despite training with Kevin Garnett this year, the results haven’t been there for Jordan. The efficiency on his hook shots, save for a 5-14 start (35.7 percent) this season, isn’t the problem. It’s the volume. He only made 9 total hook shots in the 2014-2015 season (along with only 34.5 percent of his jump shots), 19 total hook shots in the 2015-2016 season (along with only 15.4 percent of his jump shots) and 26 total hook shots last season (along with only 28.6 percent of his jump shots). Jordan has made only 1 out of 11 threes, total, in his career.

Thompson made 18 total hooks shots in the 2014-2015 season (while shooting 33.3 percent on his jumpers), he made 22 total hook shots in the 2015-2016 season (while shooting 31.8 percent on his jumpers) and 19 total hook shots in the 2016-2017 season (while shooting 39.4 percent on jumpers). Thompson has never made a three-pointer in his career (0-9) but was working on his corner threes in the offseason.

Ultimately, Thompson is more skilled than Jordan offensively. He’s also a versatile defender on defense he can guard every position on an island (although there are times that defenders seem to have a knack for making shots over him). Lastly, he’s a key to not just the crowds positive energy in games but James’ positive energy and perception.

There is one other reason that trading for Jordan wouldn’t work out, especially so far before the trade deadline. Because of the “Stepien Rule”, trading their either of their first-round picks in next year’s NBA draft would result in them being unable to trade the other one.

Their second first-round pick is expected to be in the top-five, so there’s a solid chance for the Cavs to acquire a young franchise player via trade or the draft.

However, say the Cavs trade their own first-round pick in a package for Jordan and aren’t able to trade their other first-round pick? There’s nothing they can do if a player like Paul George, Marc Gasol or DeMarcus Cousins becomes available. They’ll have effectively missed out an elite two-way wing or the prototypical big man for the modern NBA offense.

Players like Luka Doncic and Marvin Bagley III have the makings of franchise players but in free agency discussions with James, its easier for to see him coming back to a team with the star power of a name like George or Cousins.

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On the other hand though, if the Cleveland Cavaliers are willing to swap the Nets’ first-round pick for the Clippers’, there may be some type of deal that can be reached. It would make sense for both sides from a value standpoint, though Jordan’s fit would still be questionable.

The Clippers are currently 8-11 and their best player in Griffin is expected to be out for the next two months while Patrick Beverley will miss the rest of the season. Milos Teodesic and Danilo Gallinari have been in-and-out of the starting lineup all season.

As a result, the Clippers might not be that much better than the 7-13 Brooklyn Nets by the time the 2017-2018 season ends. That would mean that, while the Clippers got the chance to pick a player who could be their next franchise player, the Cavs could still get an instant contributor in what looks to be a deep 2018 NBA Draft class. The Cavs could even combine their picks to move up in the draft.

It’s all probably a matter of preference. I prefer the space that James gets from the outset of games with Kevin Love starting at center. In addition, I believe Thompson’s mindset and friendship with James will be better for the locker room. However, as previously mentioned, Jordan would be a defensive upgrade over Thompson while being a deadly on lobs in the pick-and-roll.

In my estimation though, trading for Jordan would be a disaster and will never happen.

*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference and www.nba.com