A conflicted young man with a major career decision reneged on a handshake agreement to leave the nest because what he wanted most from his newfound leverage was love and attention from the most popular guys at the home office.

Surely this has never happened before.

Such were the circumstances that moved DeAndre Jordan, a shot-blocking, volume-rebounding center, to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers early Thursday morning despite last week’s verbal deal with Mark Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks.

Surrounded by the Clippers’ dogged rescue team, Jordan, 26, avoided Cuban as if he were a tax collector.

Not the coolest or most courageous approach. But, hey, as Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said Thursday afternoon on a conference call, that’s what agents are for. If Jordan’s representative, Dan Fegan, didn’t know his client was in turmoil, that’s his problem.