13-year NBA veteran DeAndre Jordan seems poised for another move in his career.
A recent report from Shams Charania and Alex Schiffer of The Athletic noted the Brooklyn Nets and Jordan are in talks to buy out the remaining two years and nearly $20 million of his contract.
That would make the center a free agent for the third time in his career.
Nets, DeAndre Jordan Exploring Possible Buyout https://t.co/lSaguGmWkg pic.twitter.com/kCI8upwGCH
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) August 30, 2021
The one-time All-Star signed with Brooklyn in 2019, joining the star-studded core of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Jordan made 43 starts for the Nets last season, but checked in below his career averages with 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in 21.9 minutes per contest.
He was squeezed out of the rotation altogether in the playoffs, when Brooklyn opted to go small.
So after two seasons and inconsistent playing time, Jordan stands on the brink of a new chapter in his career.
Never Meshed With Brooklyn’s Big 3
Jordan found initial prominence as part of a somewhat Big 3 with the Los Angeles Clippers.
When the Clippers traded for Chris Paul in 2011, Jordan and Blake Griffin were the primary beneficiaries.
Jordan stepped into a regular role as a starter at that point and eventually elevated to All-Star status.
He became one of the top interior defenders in the league and earned three All-NBA berths with the Clippers.
But once Los Angeles blew up that Lob City core, Jordan bounced from the Dallas Mavericks to the New York Knicks.
He eventually settled in Brooklyn, but ironically, the addition of his former teammate Griffin helped push Jordan from the Nets’ rotation.
Once the Nets added James Harden, Jordan found even less success and the team seemed to thrive without him on the floor.
Nets Big 3 In Games They Played Together When DeAndre Jordan Didn’t Start.(8-1 record)
KD: 28 PPG – 8 RPG – 3 AST – 2 BPG – 1 SPG – 63 TS%
Harden: 21 PPG – 7 RPG – 10 AST – 1 BPG – 2 SPG – 73 TS%
Kyrie: 26 PPG – 5 RPG – 3 AST – 1 BPG – 1 SPG – 64 TS% pic.twitter.com/sqVKHQoTnm
— 🎒 (@aarondsimple) August 29, 2021
Cameras caught animated arguments between Jordan and Harden which all but signaled Jordan’s departure from not only the rotation but also the team.
Jordan A Fringe Hall Of Famer
Jordan’s career arc reached a statistical peak midway through the last decade.
Throughout his career, Jordan earned one All-Star berth (2017), two All-Defensive first-team (2015, 2016) berths, and two All-NBA third-team (2015, 2017) honors.
He landed on the All-NBA first-team in 2016.
Through 2020-21, Jordan ranked first among NBA career leaders in field goal percentage (67.4 percent), 27th in defensive rebounds (6,960), 33rd for offensive rebounds (2,918), and 36th for rebounds per game (10.6).
He ranks 39th for blocked shots (1,467), 41st for total rebounds (9,878) and 51st in blocks per game (1.6).
Jordan is the only player in NBA history with two or more seasons shooting over 70 percent from the field.
In 2016-17, he made 71.4 percent of his field goals, 71 percent in 2014-15, and 70.3 percent in 2015-16.
Those rank as the second, third, and fourth-highest single-season marks in NBA history.
He led the NBA in field goal percentage five times (2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17), and led the league in rebounding twice (2013-14 and 2014-15).
In 2013-14, he became just the third player in NBA history to lead the league in field goal percentage and rebounding in the same season, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Dwight Howard.
He led the NBA in dunks in four straight seasons from 2013-17.
Jordan also earned a gold medal playing for Team USA in the 2016 Olympic Games.
There’s no discounting Jordan’s achievements, but at this point, Jordan remains a fringe Hall of Fame candidate.
Should he join the Los Angeles Lakers, as recently suggested, he may finally catch that elusive championship ring.
NEXT: 1 Lakers Veteran Set To Ride The Bench This Season