Center Jordan backs out of Mavericks deal to stay with Clips

DeAndre Jordan has backed out of a verbal agreement with the Dallas Mavericks to remain with the Los Angeles Clippers.The center made the switch after a face-to-face meeting at his Houston home with a contingent of Clippers including Blake Griffin and Paul Pierce, two people with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday night.The Mavericks and Jordan's agents tried to reach him while he met with the Clippers, but were unsuccessful.Dallas owner Mark Cuban was already in Houston to try to persuade Jordan to stick with his commitment to the Mavericks, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.The owner was so confident that he had landed Jordan that he went on a Dallas radio show this week and spoke about the role Jordan would have in the Mavericks' offense.The ban on signing deals for about a week and a half after the start of free agency was put into the labor agreement in a bid to stop tampering, but instead has created the possibility of players having second thoughts.Jordan helped the Clippers get a win shy of the Western Conference finals, but a second-half collapse at home in Game 6 was followed by a loss in the deciding game at Houston.Lin essentially announced...