ESPN reports that the New York Knicks are set to pursue free agent DeAndre Jordan this week and are meeting with the big man in LA. Of importance is this detail that outlines the approach New York is taking in trying to convince the monster center to sign in the Big Apple: being the second option.

New York's pitch to Jordan will be that he would be the team's second option behind Anthony, as opposed to the third option he currently is with the Clippers behind Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Sources say that is an important distinction to Jordan.

Source: Sources: Knicks to meet with Aldridge, Jordan in L.A. - Knicks Blog - ESPN. 

So, how can I put this delicately ...

This is a terrible idea. 

Here's a look at the top offensive sets that Jordan was most involved in with the Clippers last season (from most to least), and his percentile rank in points per possession among players involved in such sets. 

Put backs: 57th percentile

Cut: 88th percentile

Pick-and-Roll Man: 95th percentile

Transition: 95th percentile

Post-up: 32nd percentile

So when someone else was creating offense for him, he was an absolute monster. When he was catching lobs off the Chris Paul pick and roll, when he was getting up the floor in transition for Lob City, when he was slicing through defenders who were preoccupied with Paul and Blake Griffin, he was great. 

When he tried to score on his own, he was bad. Giving him second-tier status is not a good look. It's not just the free-throw problems (though those are substantial). Jordan has good touch around the rim, but his hips aren't made for swinging through on post-up moves. He's shown nothing in his time in the NBA to suggest he's a "go give him the ball and let him go get a score" guy. Granted, with the Knicks being second-fiddle is like being the second-most-important player in Elvis' band, but if they sign Jordan and Anthony sits, going to Jordan as option No. 1 would not work according to any evidence we have. 

This is a key moment in Jordan's career. Recognizing what kind of player you are is difficult for NBA guys who play basketball better than 99.9 percent of the planet. Jordan needs to recognize how important it is to have a guard, specifically a point guard, who can get him the ball on offense. Without that, his overall value is limited and that's only going to lead to more Hack-A situations for him which are frustrating and discouraging. 

DeAndre Jordan is a fantastic player, one of the top guys on our Top 40. However, it's important that he signs with a team that knows how to use him correctly, and that he's not in a position that exposes his limitations. Jordan's an elite rim protector and a monster on the glass and on lobs. Be DeAndre Jordan. Don't try and be Patrick Ewing. 

DeAndre
DeAndre Jordan is a great player but not a secondary weapon. (USATSI)