Report: Clippers believed DeAndre trade with Cavs was close

DeAndre Jordan was nearly shipped to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The pieces were in place for a blockbuster deal that would have sent the Los Angeles Clippers center to Cleveland, but the trade died when reports emerged that the Cavaliers had completed a swap with the Lakers, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

It was reported L.A. was seeking young players and draft picks in exchange for Jordan and Lou Williams, before locking the latter up to an extension. The Clippers were believed to be in talks with the Cavaliers for some time about a potential Jordan trade but rejected their offer of "unwanted" contracts and their 2018 first-round pick (which they eventually shipped to the Lakers).

Hours before the deadline, the two sides were still reportedly discussing the deal and the possibility of adding a third team to the mix.

But the 3 p.m. deadline passed and Jordan remained with the club that drafted him a decade ago, while the Cavaliers overhauled half their roster. As part of the changes, they acquired Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. from the Lakers in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and their first-rounder.

Jordan, 29, is averaging 11.5 points, 14.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and a block over 47 games with the Clippers. He's owed $22.6 million this season and is expected to decline his $24.1-million player option for 2018-19 to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.