DeAndre Jordan has pulled out of a move to join the Dallas Mavericks and has instead agreed a new four-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, US media reports said Thursday.
The 26-year-old, one of the most coveted free agents of 2015, had reportedly verbally agreed an $80 million move which would see him play in Dallas next season and take a lead role in the team.
However, Jordan abruptly pulled out of the deal and will now remain at the Clippers, where he has played for seven seasons.
Jordan’s change of heart came after a delegation from the Clippers visited him at his home in Houston on Wednesday, several reports said.
Frustrated Mavericks owner Mark Cuban spoke out about the collapse of the deal on Thursday, saying he had not heard anything directly from the player.
“I don’t think the time is right to say anything beyond the facts that he never responded to me at all yesterday,” Cuban wrote.
“Not once. To this minute I have not heard anything from him since Tuesday night.”
Jordan was believed to have been enticed to Dallas by the prospect of succeeding superstar Dirk Nowitzki, who is in the twilight of his career, as the team’s main star.
With the Los Angeles Clippers, Jordan has played in the shadow of point guard Chris Paul and high-flying star Blake Griffin.
Jordan led the NBA in rebounding the last two seasons and in field-goal percentage the last three seasons.
He’s a notoriously poor free-throw shooter, but a sterling interior defender.
Last season, he averaged 11.5 points and 15 rebounds.