Free agent center DeAndre Jordan agreed to a four-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks worth more than $80 million and is expected to get his wish of becoming a focal point on offense.
Jordan, a defensive force and one of the top rebounders in the NBA, was not an offensive threat for the Los Angeles Clippers beyond slamming lob passes from point guard Chris Paul and expressed his desire to be used in a different role.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Saturday that the team told Jordan he will be used in new ways in Dallas.
"We see him as 'Shaq-like' but never having been given the opportunity," Cuban told 1310 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."
The contract includes a player option after the third season to allow Jordan to return to free agency in July 2018, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Jordan was said to be deciding between going to Dallas or re-signing with the Clippers, who did not have a player present during their meeting with Jordan. Paul, who was not always on the best terms with the big man, did not contact Jordan and spent last week in the Bahamas with good friend LeBron James.
The 6-foot-11, 265-pound Jordan instantly becomes a cornerstone for the Mavericks, who lost Tyson Chandler to the Phoenix Suns.
Jordan comes back to Texas after playing in college at Texas A&M.
Jordan led the league in rebounding the last two seasons and in field-goal percentage the last three seasons. Last season, he averaged 11.5 points and 15 rebounds in 82 games.
Earlier Friday, free agent guard Wesley Matthews agreed to sign with the Mavericks on a multi-year deal, according to reports.
Matthews, the former Portland Trail Blazers swingman, turned down a four-year, $64 million offer from the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, according to ESPN.com.
Matthews, 28, averaged 15.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season for the Trail Blazers before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in March. He missed the final 22 games of Portland's season.
