DeAndre Jordan Headed To Lakers After Clearing Waivers

Veteran center DeAndre Jordan intends to sign a veteran’s minimum contract with the Lakers following a buyout with the Pistons, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Jordan is being traded from the Nets to the Pistons, and will have to wait 48 hours to clear waivers before joining LA.

“Trading Jordan’s contract instead of buying it out offers the Nets financial relief in the short term, but also in the future with the repeater tax penalty starting in 2023,” Wojnarowski wrote.

The Nets and Jordan were contemplating a buyout earlier in the week, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic. But he was traded to the Pistons instead.

Jordan, 32, averaged 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 57 games last season, but did not appear in the playoffs. He signed a four-year deal worth about $40 million in 2019, when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving also signed.

“Jordan will return to Los Angeles, where he spent the first eight years of his career as a member of the Clippers,” Wojnarowski wrote. “The Lakers have signed several veteran players to their bench — including eight-time All-Star center Dwight Howard — and still have three-time All-Star Marc Gasol on the team’s roster.”