Will DeAndre Jordan provide "Shaq-like" presence to the Mavs? (Photo : REUTERS)
Los Angeles Clippers free agent DeAndre Jordan is joining the Dallas Mavericks in a four-year maximum deal worth over $80 million.
The deal carries a player option after the third season to Jordan to revert to free agency in July 2018 when the salary cap for each team substantially increases.
Jordan is the big man that the Mavericks have long coveted who could be their future franchise player as Dirk Nowitzki ages.
Mavs owner Mark Cuban foresees Jordan to be their best player for years to come and a "franchise player for the rest of his career."
With the Clippers, Jordan was releagted behind stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.
Cuban, in a radio appearance, described Jordan as "Shaq-like", in reference to NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, and capable of producing 20 points and 20 rebounds per game player.
In the 15 games that Griffin didn't play last season, Jordan took over and averaged 14.9 points and 18.5 rebounds per game.
The 26-year-old center topped the league in field goal percentage with .710 and rebounds per game with 15 last season.
He was the first to do so in back-to-back seasons since Wilt Chamberlain in 1971-72 and 1972-73.
Jordan's field goal percentage was also the second-highest in league history behind Chamberlain's .727 in 1972-73.
Jordan became the only player in NBA history to average at least 13 rebounds per game while shooting at least 70 percent from the field in a postseason. He also averaged 11.5 points per game last season.
However, he shot just 39.7 percent from the free throw line and was target for a "Hack-a-Shaq" ploy by opposing teams.
He made it to the All-NBA third team for the first time in his career.
Joining the Mavs is also a return to Texas for Jordan who played for Texas A&M in college.
Jordan also met with the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, but had been expected to choose between the Mavs and Clippers.
The Mavericks, led by the efforts of small forward Chandler Parsons, pursued Jordan and free-agent shooting guard Wesley Matthews.
Matthews has verbally committed Thursday to join the Mavs on a four-year deal expected to average in the $13 million range.
