NBA News: DeAndre Jordan, Rajon Rondo Sign Deals

Two of the biggest names in NBA free agency have decided where they’ll be playing next year. DeAndre Jordan is reportedly headed to the Dallas Mavericks, while Rajon Rondo plans to sign with the Sacramento Kings.

Jordan’s deal is worth $80 million over four years, including a player option that would allow him to become a free agent in the summer of 2018. Rondo’s contract is only for one year, and he’ll be paid $9.5 million.

After having the best year of his career, Jordan was one of the most coveted players on the market. He averaged 11.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game for the Los Angeles Clippers, finishing third in the race for NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

The trio of Jordan, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin made the Clippers a title contender last year, while the Mavericks were the No.7 seed and lost in five games in the first round of the playoffs. But Jordan will no longer be the third-best player on his team, and the opportunity to be a franchise player appears to be a main reason for his departure from L.A.

Los Angeles did their best to re-sign Jordan, but the Mavericks let Rondo walk. The point guard was traded to Dallas from the Boston Celtics last year, and he did not perform as expected. In 46 games with the Mavericks, Rondo averaged 9.3 points, 6.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. He hadn’t averaged fewer than 9.8 assists per game since the 2008-2009 season.

Rondo was not highly sought-after in free agency. The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, who made offers to Jordan, were expected to be interested in Rondo. But neither team made a push to sign him, and he was forced to take a one-year deal with the Kings.