To begin the 2017-18 NBA season, the Los Angeles Clippers have started 4-1, which is surprising for most considering they traded Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets. As the Clippers are retooling around Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, they will have another important decision to make.

After the Clippers and Houston Rockets reportedly discussed a trade centered around Jordan and Clint Capela at the 2017 NBA trade deadline, the one-time All-Star has a player option for the 2018-19 NBA season. According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, contract extension talks have stalled between the two sides:

Jordan may want something closer to his maximum salary of $35 million. He has discussed an extension, but he would earn less going that route; talks have stalled. “If they want me, yeah, I'd love to be here,” Jordan says. “But I don't have an extension, do I? So we'll see.” (Jordan is also negotiating without an agent. He parted ways with Dan Fegan, his old agent, after the Dallas hostage situation. “I haven't had the best experiences with agents,” Jordan says.)

If Jordan is looking for his maximum salary of $35 million, head coach Doc Rivers had an interesting response:

Whether they can build a contender around Griffin and Jordan will depend in part on “what the number is” on Jordan's salary, Rivers admits. “We want DJ back,” Rivers says. “We think we can win a title building around him and Blake. You also need room in the budget for other people.”

After re-signing Blake Griffin to a five-year, $173 million deal this past offseason, the Clippers would be committing $60-70 million to two big men if they ultimately re-sign Jordan. While Rivers believes they can win a championship building around the two All-Stars, they do need to have roster balance.

For the Clippers, they have gotten off to a strong start to the new season despite losing Paul. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how the relationship develops between the two sides if contract extension talks continue to stall.