The Los Angeles Lakers were busy this offseason overhauling their roster. While some familiar faces are coming back, there are currently 10 new players on the roster that were not with the team last season. One of the new additions is center DeAndre Jordan.
Jordan was traded by the Brooklyn Nets in a salary dump to the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons acquired four future second-round picks from the Nets in the deal. They sent Sekou Doumbouya and Jahlil Okafor to Brooklyn to complete the swap.
Jordan wasn’t with the Pistons very long before securing a buyout from the team. Once he cleared waivers, he signed a deal with the Lakers for the veteran’s minimum.
It was a deal that many people scratched their heads. Jordan was not effective with the Nets last season and was removed from the rotation by the end of the regular season. Despite all of the injuries the team battled in the postseason, Jordan didn’t get on the court for a single second.
It is fair to question how much Jordan will help the Lakers this season. One NBA scout, speaking to NBA Analysis Network’s Evan Massey, believes that Jordan is in for an excellent season.
“DeAndre Jordan is looking very good for the Lakers. He has a chip on his shoulder about how things went down with Brooklyn. I’m telling you, he’s going to have a massive impact in L.A.”
The acquisition of Jordan helps the Lakers mold their roster closer to the one they had during their 2020 NBA Championship run in the Orlando Bubble.
Last season they had no vertical threat offensively to catch lob passes, so they brought back Dwight Howard and added Jordan. Defensively, they will both help as well as rim protectors, something last season’s team also lacked.
There is a chance that Anthony Davis does start at the center position, which would push Jordan further down the depth chart. But, having a motivated player at the end of your bench is never a bad thing. He is a veteran and once his number is called, it sounds as if he will be ready to prove everyone wrong and show he can still produce for a contending team.
