Report: 76ers emerging as a frontrunner to land center DeAndre Jordan
The Sixers are looking to add another big-man who they hope can backup Joel Embiid in the postseason.
According to ESPN, the 76ers are the frontrunner to sign veteran center DeAndre Jordan:
Jordan has spent the 2021-2022 season out in Los Angeles with the crumbling Lakers, playing in 32 games while averaging 4.1 PPG and 5.4 RPG.
The Lakers saw this pass from DeAndre Jordan and said “Nah, we’re good.”
Jordan is getting towards the end of his career, but he could still provide some valuable minutes off the bench. The 33-year-old is currently in his 15th season in the NBA but has dropped off drastically from his career averages of 9.2/10.4/1.0.
Coming to Philly would reunite him with Doc Rivers, who coached him in Los Angeles with the Clippers. Doc Rivers always had high praise for Jordan while coaching him, saying he could be the best center in the league if he wanted to before the 2017 season. Jordan went on to have the best season of his career under Doc, posting career highs in points and FG% while playing 81 games.
The veteran would also be reuniting with the newest Sixers star James Harden. DeAndre Jordan and James Harden were teammates in Brooklyn but did get into it on one occasion. Harden would eventually clear everything up and say that everything was solved and fixed.
Jordan was one of the three stars of Lob City, the fascinating Clippers team throughout the 2010s. Jordan, Blake Griffin, and CP3 made the game of basketball look easy on a night-to-night basis, throwing lobs like nobody has ever seen.
Although Jordan can’t jump like that anymore, he would still be able to run a heavy amount of pick and roll off the bench. Frankly, I don’t even know if DeAndre Jordan can still jump at all. But paying Jordan a small amount of money, while the Sixers still have an open roster spot, is a no-brainer for me. What’s the worst that can happen? He sucks, and you don’t play him.
After losing Andre Drummond in the trade with the Brooklyn Nets, DeAndre would also be a veteran presence in the locker room and a guy that can help Joel Embiid work on his game to an even better level than what it’s currently at. Come playoff time, Jordan would maybe get 7-10 minutes of action, if that. It’s a risk worth taking.
At this moment in time, nothing is finalized. But keep an eye out for Daryl Morey to stay active in the market over the coming days.
Mandatory Credit: AP Photos
[…] and it’s probably for the best. I doubt DeAndre Jordan will be a much better option either when he eventually gets signed. If I had it my way, hook-shot God Robin Lopez would be in a Sixers jersey if Orlando ever decided […]