The Cleveland Cavaliers heavily pursued Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan prior to the 2018 trade deadline, but one hefty contract ultimately prevented a deal from happening.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the franchises had neared an agreement sending Jordan to Cleveland if the Cavaliers could find a team willing to absorb Iman Shumpert’s contract.
But no suitor would be found.
Shumpert has a $10.3 million salary this season and holds an $11 million player option for 2018-19, per Basketball Insiders. Given his declining role, there’s essentially zero chance Shumpert will decline that option and enter free agency this summer.
Understandably, Clippers general manager Michael Winger didn’t want Shumpert’s contract clogging the team’s salary sheet.
As it became apparent Shumpert couldn’t be shipped to Los Angeles — which didn’t want Tristan Thompson or J.R. Smith either, per Woj — Cavs GM Koby Altman moved on to other options. He eventually traded Shumpert to the Sacramento Kings in a three-team swap that landed Rodney Hood and George Hill.
Altman still improved Cleveland’s roster at the deadline, but Shumpert’s contract stopped the NBA world from seeing Jordan and LeBron James on the same team.