The Deandre Jordan debacle.

[Dave Gray]

I'm sure you guys all know the story by now.  What do you think?

[MikeO]

He has the right to change his mind and stay with LA. But have the guts and balls to at least answer the phone and talk to Cuban and tell him like a man.

Avoiding the phone calls and running and hiding is low class and he is acting like a wimp.

[Dave Gray]

I think that while the letter of the law allows him to renege, the way the NBA is structured is that these verbal commitments drive all of free agency.  It was a hack job by the Clippers to do it this way.  They didn't take care of their own guy and lost him -- then only after the fact, did they come together and take him once another team once depending on him. 

The national sports media doesn't seem to care, but can you imagine if the HEAT did this?

What if Lebron James gave his intent to go to Cleveland, they planned around him, and then Bosh, Wade, and Riley went to Lebron's house in Cleveland, barricaded him in and didn't take calls from Dan Gilbert of Lebron's agent.  ESPN would be burning him at the stake...not to mention what they'd say about Wade posting trolling pictures of doors being jammed with chairs.  It's just a ridiculous double-standard.

The Mavs have gotten hosed, playing in the same system as everyone else.  This has essentially ended Dirk's career, season ticket holders bought in, thinking they had a playoff team, and now they'll be in tank-mode.

The whole thing stinks, the Clippers prove that once-again, they are a hack organization without professional courtesy.

Owners are supposed to be partners in the league -- not back-stab each other, even if it's technically in the rules for them to do so.

[Phishfan]

I can't believe anyone would be upset about a player and team completely playing by the rules. I can understand being upset about not taking calls but other than that, not a single party did anything wrong. Mark Cuban, a man who is never scared to speak his mind, has not even been upset about this happening. He is rightfully upset about being ignored though.

[Dave Gray]

People were incredibly upset and thought that Lebron screwed Cleveland by leaving under free agency by not telling them earlier that he was leaving.

[MikeO]

People were incredibly upset and thought that Lebron screwed Cleveland by leaving under free agency by not telling them earlier that he was leaving.

For the same reason many are mad at Jordan. Re-sign with LA, that's fine. He is entitled. But have the guts to tell the other party you made a verbal deal with what you are doing or something has changed. But answer the Cuban phone call and tell him what you are doing, don't ignore him for days on end and act like a wimp. Be a professional. Act with class. Man-up!

When Lebron left Cleveland, that's fine. But don't make the team find out on TV with the rest of the world. Have some class and give them a heads up and some notice. They put millions in his pocket for years, least you can do is tell them hey here is what I am doing so you aren't blindsided.

[Dave Gray]

For the same reason many are mad at Jordan.

They aren't mad at Jordan.  Sure, Dallas fans understandably hate him.  But the national media, by and large, stands behind him and thinks this is no big deal.  The same media lambasted Lebron for years.

[MikeO]

They aren't mad at Jordan.  Sure, Dallas fans understandably hate him.  But the national media, by and large, stands behind him and thinks this is no big deal.  The same media lambasted Lebron for years.

The media I have heard and read are coming out against Jordan. Maybe not to the level of Lebron (star power matters on some level here too) but I have seen plenty of anti-Jordan media (outside of Dallas too) on this issue

[Phishfan]

People were incredibly upset and thought that Lebron screwed Cleveland by leaving under free agency by not telling them earlier that he was leaving.

Those were sour grapes. I didn't care about James leaving Cleveland. The biggest thing about that and where most of the public became upset with James (minus the Cavs fans) was in the TV debacle known as "The Decision".

[Dave Gray]

I think it's more than that.  America loves to build people up, tear them down, and then re-build them.

It happens all the time.

They loved Lebron in Cleveland.  Then, they needed a reason to hate him, so they went with this narrative.  (As well as not being clutch, not being a team guy, not being honorable, can't do it alone, etc.) 

Now, they want a reason to like him again, and the return to home narrative (which is completely bullshit and a media play) gives them that.

[EDGECRUSHER]

I've seem overwhelmingly negative coverage about the Clippers and Jordan.

Basically, the NBA needs to do something about these situations because it completely screwed the Mavs. If Jordan didn't verbally commit to them, they would've went elsewhere. By doing what he did, all the other players are gone and they are in big trouble. Either make a verbal commit count as a signed contract or have them unable to talk to free agents until the signing period starts like the NFL. You will have teams to skirt the rules(coughDOLPHINScough), but whatever.

Legally, what he did was fine. Morally, he is an asshole and a total coward. The whole Clippers organization is a joke and I am glad Doc Rivers is running them into the ground while taking zero responsibility.

[MikeO]

The NFL and NBA need to get rid of the whole....players can talk to teams a week or weekend before signings begin but deals can't be made till a later date. It's so f'n stupid on all levels. July 1st NBA teams should be able to sign players, not just talk to them. Would have solved this entire mess

[ArtieChokePhin]

I've seem overwhelmingly negative coverage about the Clippers and Jordan.

Basically, the NBA needs to do something about these situations because it completely screwed the Mavs. If Jordan didn't verbally commit to them, they would've went elsewhere. By doing what he did, all the other players are gone and they are in big trouble. Either make a verbal commit count as a signed contract or have them unable to talk to free agents until the signing period starts like the NFL. You will have teams to skirt the rules(coughDOLPHINScough), but whatever.

Legally, what he did was fine. Morally, he is an asshole and a total coward. The whole Clippers organization is a joke and I am glad Doc Rivers is running them into the ground while taking zero responsibility.

This is just like college recruiting.  Kids give verbal commitments to schools all the time.  Those commitments aren't worth the paper they are written on.  I agree, there should be no "pre-free agency" negotiating period at all.  Make it like the NFL. 

[Pappy13]

The Mavs shouldn't be mad at Jordan, they should be mad at Doc Rivers who totally pulled off a fast one on them. I don't know whether it was by design or just happenstance, but it was Rivers that orchestrated getting Jordan back to LA, not Jordan.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Jordan is the one who broke his word and then hid like a child, it's his fault. Doc Rivers isn't to blame, he just wanted to do what was best for his team, like give minutes to his son who plays basketball like Stephen Hawking.