DeAndre Jordan was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for a package of players and draft picks. The trade has been met with mixed reactions, but one thing is certain: it’s going to be an interesting season in Texas.
DeAndre Jordan is a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers. He hilariously denounced his former Brooklyn Nets teammates in an interview with ESPN Radio on Thursday morning, saying they were not good people.
DeAndre Jordan signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on September 9, 2021, after clearing waivers after being released by the Detroit Pistons. Jordan returned $4 million, and the Pistons bought out the remaining $15.7 million of his four-year, $40 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets, which he signed as a free agency in 2019.
Jordan comes to Los Angeles in search of a ring after leaving Brooklyn. He played with the Los Angeles Clippers for the first ten years of his career. Before joining 2016 U.S. Olympic colleagues Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, the three-time All-NBA selection spent a season between the Dallas Mavericks and the New York Knicks.
DeAndre Jordan’s time with the Brooklyn Nets did not go as planned.
Although DeAndre Jordan is no longer a member of the Brooklyn Nets, his relationship with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving remains strong. | Getty Images/Jonathan Bachman
Both Durant and Irving agreed to less-than-maximum agreements in July 2019 to enable Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks to create space for DeAndre Jordan. During the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the trio became closer.
Jordan’s role dwindled as the season progressed, and he ended up sitting out Brooklyn’s postseason run. Marks is said to have worked with Jordan’s agents to help arrange Jordan’s trade to Detroit, which included four second-round choices and the maximum financial commitment of $5.78 million.
Jordan was granted his liberty. Due to the former All-dead Star’s money, Brooklyn dodged a potentially huge luxury tax penalty for the next two seasons. Sekou Doumbouya, a 2019 first-round selection, and Jahlil Okafor, a former Net, were both added to the roster. Okafor has already been waived by Brooklyn.
Jordan poked fun at his old East Coast colleagues at his debut video conference in Los Angeles.
Jordan said that he was no longer buddies with Brooklyn Nets players Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Jordan was able to join the Lakers when the experienced Marc Gasol was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. Gasol intends to stay in Spain this season, according to ESPN. Memphis intends to buy out Gasol’s last year of his veteran’s minimum deal.
Jordan started his remarks with a lighthearted declaration of war on Durant and Irving. ESPN claims this.
“We’re certainly no longer friends, so…”
In a more serious tone, the seasoned big guy explained the connection.
“We’re buddies before and after basketball, and I believe at the end of the day, we all just want to be happy,” he said. “And being able to compete is very important to me, and they recognize that. And we’re brothers outside of basketball, so whether we’re teammates or not has no bearing on or affects our relationship.”
Jordan praised the Brooklyn Nets for collaborating with him.
“It was simply that both sides wanted to find out what was best for us,” he said. “And I felt like they treated me with respect as a senior player, understanding that I wanted to finish….” It was just more convenient for both of us.”
At the very least, the demographics of LA are a good match for Jordan.
The importance of DeAndre Jordan in Los Angeles
The Lakers’ roster has 13 guaranteed contracts, with training camp set to begin later this month. Only DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard are listed as centers on the Los Angeles roster. Even though he chooses not to, All-Star Anthony Davis will most likely spend time at the five for the Lakers.
Jordan joins a squad full of veterans at the age of 33. Carmelo Anthony (37), Trevor Ariza (36), Rajon Rondo (35), Howard (35), Wayne Ellington (33), Russell Westbrook (32), and Kent Bazemore (32) are among the newcomers that are over 30. LeBron James and Wesley Matthews, the two holdovers, are 36 and 34 years old, respectively.
In 2021–22, the Lakers’ greatest ally will be experience. Age, on the other hand, may be their greatest danger to capturing an NBA-record 18th title this season. James has only had two major injuries in his career in the past three years, missing 27 games last season due to a weak ankle. Davis isn’t in his 30s, but he’s had a lot of time off due to injuries.
Jordan and the Brooklyn Nets are set to reunite in the NBA Finals next June, if the Vegas oddsmakers are correct. The Nets are plus-240 favorites to win the title, according to Vegas Insider. At plus-400, Los Angeles has the best odds in the Western Conference. DeAndre Jordan claims that he and Brooklyn’s megastars will be buddies till the conclusion of their careers. However, in a playoff environment, such emotions will be placed on wait.
Spotrac provided contract details.
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