Former Lakers center, NBA champion signs with underrated Western Conference contender

It’s common for NBA free agents to sign with franchises that have specific needs at the start or in the middle of a new season. 

On Friday, a former Los Angeles Lakers center who won a championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023 signed a deal with an underrated Western Conference contender. 

“Free agent center DeAndre Jordan is signing a one-year, $3.6 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday.. The one-time All-NBA big man and 2023 champion enters his 18th season in the league.”

Jordan, known for his impactful contributions on the ‘Lob City’ Los Angeles Clippers earlier in his career, spent half of the 2021-22 season with the Lakers. 

The Texas A&M product was past his physical prime by that point, but was brought in to serve as a veteran locker room presence and mentor for the young, up-and-coming contributors.

Jordan averaged 4.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 32 contests with the Lakers before getting traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. 

During the following season, Jordan finally found the team success he’s been missing throughout his career, as he captured a title alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in Denver. 

While Jordan understands he’s no longer a high-level contributor at this stage of his career, he could play a Udonis Haslem-type role with the Pelicans in his late 30s and ensure team morale and chemistry are where they need to be all year long.

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