HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

Being a restricted free agent is frustrating for players because they have little control over their future and are limited by their team’s ability to match any offer they receive. But players that have been through the process in the past had it easy compared to this year’s group of restricted free agents.

With a new collective bargaining agreement being negotiated, the future is more up in the air than ever for these players. Salaries may be scaled back, contracts could be shortened and the very idea of restricted free agency could even be left out of the next agreement.

One player included in this year’s restricted free agency class is Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan. He knows that he doesn’t have much control over the situation, but he still can’t help but wonder what the future holds.

"I’m trying not to think about all of that, but it is always in the back of your mind. Like with a lockout possibly coming, you wonder what’s going to happen," Jordan told HOOPSWORLD. "But at the same time, I just try to play. I’m not really thinking about it a lot, I’m just playing my game."

The twenty-two year old center was inserted into the starting lineup after an ankle injury sidelined Chris Kaman. Since becoming the starter, Jordan has turned heads around the league with his athleticism and potential. His name has already started surfacing in rumors and several teams, including the New York Knicks, are reportedly planning to throw money at him this summer.

But that’s all news to Jordan. While a lot of players say that they ignore all of the rumors floating around, Jordan is one of the players that truly tunes everything out. When asked about the rumors that have already started to surface regarding his free agency, he gave quizzical look.

"What are they saying? What’s going on?" Jordan asked.

When told that teams like the Knicks have been mentioned as possible suitors for him this summer, he pauses to take it all in. He thinks and nods his head before explaining why this is the first time he’s heard the rumor.

"I try to avoid all of that. As flattering as that is, I just try to continue to play," he said. "I know I’ll be fine. Whatever happens, happens and wherever I’ll be, I’ll still be playing the way I am now."

This is a very different conversation because of how he is playing right now. He has exceeded all expectations and shown glimpses of the dominant center he could become when he reaches his prime. Against the Denver Nuggets in January, he filled the stat sheet with 14 points, 20 rebounds and 6 blocks. He has displayed an outstanding work ethic, hitting the weight room before each game and making huge strides over the offseason. He has been one of the most surprising players in the first half of the season and has made Kaman, an All-Star, expendable as the trade deadline approaches.

"It was really just working hard and waiting for my opportunity," Jordan said. "I worked really hard this summer not knowing if I was going to play fifteen minutes or end up starting, like I am now. I just told myself that I was going to be ready and it’s paying off. The time out there, being able to get some experience, has been the main thing. I’ve made strides and improvement by just getting better at every aspect of the game. I’m not just staying at one level. I want to get better at something each year. That’s what I’m working on and that’s why I’ll continue to get better and be able to help the team out as much as possible."

Playing alongside Blake Griffin hasn’t hurt either. The rookie sensation has helped open up looks for Jordan and taken some of the pressure and attention away from the third-year player.

"It’s been great. Blake is a great guy and he’s great for the team. He’s young and we’re already a pretty young team so it’s good to have a guy like that who is a great player and an All-Star. He is still young, down to earth and always working," Jordan said.

While Jordan will be coveted entering free agency, the Clippers will ultimately decide whether or not he remains in Los Angeles. The front office has done an excellent job assembling a talented, young group through the draft, which has drawn some comparisons to the model used by the Oklahoma City Thunder or Portland Trail Blazers. Letting Jordan walk could be a mistake with the culture that’s starting to develop.

"We’re all young. I remember at one point, our entire starting lineup could have all still been in college, which was funny to us. We look at teams like Oklahoma City and Portland. The Thunder are still a young team and the Blazers have gotten a little bit older, but we look at teams like that. That’s really what we’re trying to shoot for, and we know we can be good like those teams. Because we’re all so young, we do make some mistakes but we’re always there to help each other and correct each other. Everybody on this team has a nice little bond. It’s really like a family," Jordan said.

Whether or not he remains with that family remains to be seen. For now, DeAndre Jordan is just trying to make the most of his opportunity and focus on the present. After all, he doesn’t have much of a choice.

Juan Dixon Returning Overseas: With his one-year suspension from FIBA on the verge of being lifted, Juan Dixon is understandably excited. One year away from basketball is a long time for anyone, but it has felt like an eternity for Dixon.

After testing positive for the steroid nandrolone, which was found in an over-the-count supplement called Jack3d, the guard has been working hard and counting down the days until he could return to the game he loves.

"I’m excited," Dixon told HOOPSWORLD in a phone interview. "It’s been a long year and throughout everything, I’ve just tried to work as hard as I could so that I would stay in the best shape possible. That’s pretty much all I’ve been doing. The suspension is over on Saturday so I’m able to play anytime after that and I’m looking forward to it. I’m very excited. I’ve been counting down the days. I’m tired of being here in Baltimore and I’m really looking forward to playing basketball."

While Dixon will definitely be returning overseas, he has yet to determine which team he will sign with. Many teams have expressed interest in his services, including his former team Unicaja Malaga, but he is still weighing his options.

"I’m not sure if I’m going back to Malaga, but I would love to get the opportunity to play there once again. It’s a fresh start after blowing a good opportunity last year and hopefully I would be able to go there and play well. But it’s still up in the air. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but we’re going to take it a day at a time. I’m just communicating with my agent and I’ll see where things go," Dixon said.

"It feels good just knowing that teams still have a lot of respect for me out there and they know that I’m still able to play at a high level and contribute to their club," Dixon continued. "I just have to see what the best situation is for me out here in Europe or elsewhere and then just take it from there. There’s no timetable. We’re just trying to find the best possible situation and I’m just going to go there, be productive and be a great teammate."

One option that Dixon and his agent, Terrance Doyle, strongly considered was entering the NBA Development League Draft. In fact, Dixon had all but decided to take that route before running into an unexpected obstacle.

"If I had played in the NBA Development League, my suspension in Europe would have started over," Dixon explained. "Just in case things didn’t work out as planned in the D-League, I just wanted to make sure that I kept my options open. That’s why I decided not to go there."

{AUTHOR_BOX}Dixon was extremely productive last season, averaging 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists, prior to his suspension. While he hasn’t played in a year, he actually believes he’s in better shape after hiring a new trainer and developing a brutal workout schedule.

"I feel like I’m in better physical shape," Dixon said. "I don’t have injuries and I’ve been working out with Coach Troy Jones out in Maryland for the past few months. He’s really helped me in these two or three months. I’m very grateful to have him in my corner and he’s someone that’s very supportive of me."

While his ultimate goal is to return to the NBA, he’s not thinking too far ahead just yet.

"That’s my goal, but I’m just going to take it a day at a time and continue to work hard. We’ll see what happens. I’ll go back to Europe now, play well and just see where that leads me," he said.

After being away from the game for one year, Dixon is a changed man. He’s been humbled and realized that basketball and anything else can be taken away when you least expect it. When asked what he’s learned throughout this experience, he doesn’t hesitate to answer.

"Not to take anything for granted," Dixon said. "What we do is a blessing and we’re very fortunate so I definitely learned not to take this basketball thing, or anything else I love, for granted ever again."

With his suspension finally over, Juan Dixon will be able to apply the lessons that he has learned and get a fresh start. He’s ready to prove that he can still contribute at a high level and that one year away from the game has only made him stronger.

News and Notes: Here are some items from this week’s news and notes bin.

• The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly had discussions with the Denver Nuggets regarding a Carmelo Anthony trade. While the idea of teaming Anthony with fellow superstar Kobe Bryant seems entertaining and excellent on paper, the general consensus among the decision makers in Los Angeles is that Andrew Bynum is too important to include in talks. "As much as Carmelo here would be great, we can’t win a championship without a real center," said one source within the organization.

• Dallas Mavericks rookie Dominique Jones has a stress fracture in his right foot. After meeting with team doctors to determine a course of action, it was determined that he will undergo surgery and have a pin inserted into his foot. Jones will be sidelined for ten weeks, but could return in time for the playoffs. This season, Jones has played in eighteen games and is averaging 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds.

• After watching the Orlando Magic drop eight of fourteen games in recent weeks, fans in Central Florida began to panic. Sensing this, Dwight Howard delivered a message to boost confidence and reiterated that this team will still be a contender once they get everyone on the same page. "We’ve just got to continue to play and be more consistent," Howard said. "That’s the only thing that we can do. We’re going to make shots and we’re going to be a better team than we are now. We just want everybody to continue to support us. We need our fans every night to be loud and help us out. We’re going to get this thing right. We just need everybody to be patient. When we get back from the break, we have about twenty-five games left to get ready for the playoffs. I’m pretty sure, with the way we work, things will be fine."