According to Shams Charania and Alex Schiffer of The Athletic, the Brooklyn Nets and DeAndre Jordan remain in negotiations for a buyout of the final two years and nearly $20 million of his contract.
Considering Jordan’s age, contract status, and declining production, a buyout seems the most likely avenue for the player and club divorce, since Brooklyn would probably need to attach an asset in order to unload Jordan via trade.
Nets moving toward DeAndre Jordan buyout to open up roster spot https://t.co/RXIi8z664X pic.twitter.com/7FrseYD6IE
— New York Post (@nypost) August 30, 2021
Jordan signed with Brooklyn during the same offseason (2019) the Nets nabbed both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
The center started 43 games for the Nets last season, but he played just 21.9 minutes per game, his lowest mark since 2009-10.
Once Brooklyn made it to the postseason, Jordan fell out of the rotation altogether.
Despite his age, Jordan will likely draw interest from other teams in need of frontcourt depth.
3. Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls reshaped their roster this offseason.
Chicago completed sign-and-trade deals with the New Orleans Pelicans for guard Lonzo Ball and the San Antonio Spurs for DeMar DeRozan.
The team seems poised for a playoff run, especially after landing All-Star Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline last season.
The Bulls need to impress Zach LaVine to ensure their All-Star signs a long-term contract extension to stay with the club.
Adding Jordan would provide the Bulls with much needed frontcourt depth behind Vucevic.
Although not at all a stretch big like Vucevic, Jordan would still be a capable pick-and-roll partner for Ball, DeRozan, LaVine, or Coby White.
The Bulls are said to be pursuing veteran forward Paul Millsap, but should he opt to sign elsewhere, Chicago may elect to fill their frontcourt void with a player like Jordan.
2. Phoenix Suns
If Jordan completes the buyout settlement with Brooklyn, then he should head west and rejoin his former Los Angeles Clippers teammate Chris Paul in Phoenix.
The Suns are coming off one of the most successful seasons in franchise history and are poised for another run at the Western Conference crown.
Jordan’s addition would provide depth behind Deandre Ayton and the newly signed JaVale McGee.
Although Jordan would be the third-string center in Phoenix, having him on the roster could help mitigate the loss of Dario Saric, who’s possibly out for the season.
He would help with rim protection and would provide a better lob threat that both Saric and Frank Kaminsky.
1. Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers seem like they’re trying to sign every aging veteran on the free agent market.
Recent reports linked the Lakers to Jordan, should the big man enter free agency after a buyout agreement with Brooklyn.
One suitor to keep an eye on, sources said, should DeAndre Jordan and the Brooklyn Nets reach a contract buyout: the Los Angeles Lakers.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) August 30, 2021
Adding Jordan to their roster would cement Los Angeles’ status as the oldest team in the league and one of the oldest teams in recent NBA history.
The Lakers’ interest in Jordan, though, doesn’t seem to fit with their current roster needs.
Los Angeles already sports a pair of aging centers in Marc Gasol and Dwight Howard.
It’s hard to imagine Jordan being an upgrade over either of these two, but the reports are out there.
If Jordan is chasing a championship, he might be willing to take a diminished role.
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