DeAndre Jordan's new agent adds fuel to Milwaukee Bucks trade rumors

DJ Dunson
LA Clippers center DeAndre Jordan may be looking for a new address soon. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LA Clippers center DeAndre Jordan may be looking for a new address soon. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

DeAndre Jordan has proceeded without representation since he separated from Dan Fegan during a dramatic night three summers ago when he backtracked out of an agreement with the Dallas Mavericks. On Monday, Jordan hired prominent agent Jeff Schwartz according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Jordan, 29, has signed with Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, sources said, who will help navigate the processes expected to determine Jordan’s future with the Clippers.

Schwartz has assembled an impressive panoply of active NBA clientele including Ricky Rubio, Kemba Walker, Harrison Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Andre Drummond, Nikola Jokic and Kevin Love. However, the most significant aspect of Jordan hiring Schwartz pertains to his representation of Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd.

Over the weekend, Jordan’s name swirled in trade talks involving the Bucks. As we learned from Jordan’s Mavs saga, agents can play a significant role in steering their clients towards particular franchises. During the summer of 2015, Jordan was Exhibit 1 in this phenomenon. At the time, people close to Jordan believed Fegan was pushing Jordan to sign with the Mavericks. Fegan was close friends with Mark Cuban and represented then-Maverick Chandler Parsons.

In this instance, the difference is that Jordan won’t have as much control over the situation. If Jordan is on the trade block, his agent could wield an even stronger hand. Blake Griffin’s MCL sprain was the clarion call for vultures to begin picking on the carcass of the Clippers veteran contracts. Jordan’s player-option for the 2018-19 season puts him in the driver’s seat, but if teams are going to pursue Jordan, they’ll seek assurances from Schwartz that Jordan will stay put for at least one more season.

There are impediments to Jordan heading to Milwaukee. The Clippers will seek a player of value and the Bucks draft pick wouldn’t be enough.

The Bucks have surged defensively since acquiring Eric Bledsoe once month ago and their pursuit of Jordan would provide the Bucks with an elite rim runner and perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate.