Sources told ESPN that the Brooklyn Nets have traded center DeAndre Jordan to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Jahlil OKafor and Sekou Doumbouya.
Sources say that the Pistons are looking to buy Jordan out. Jordan, an All-Star in 2017, has two years and $20 millions left on his four-year contract worth $40 million.
Sources said that if Jordan is granted free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers would be serious contenders to sign him.
The Nets will save $47 million on salary and luxury taxes through the trade. Sources said that the Pistons will receive their 2022- and 2027 second round picks, as well as the more favorable 2024 second rounder between Washington Wizards & Memphis Grizzlies, and the more favorable (2025 second-rounder) between Wizards & Golden State Warriors.
The Nets can trade Jordan's contract to avoid buying it out. This will provide financial relief for the Nets in the short-term, as well as future tax penalties that start in 2023.
Brooklyn had the option to waive and stretch the $19.7m Jordan's contract owed over five seasons. That would have represented a $3.9M cap hit that would have lingered on team books from 2021-2025. Although the move could have saved them money on their luxury tax bill over the next two seasons, it would have cost them an additional $20 million in 2023-24 and $50 million in 2025-26.
After he was cleared from the heart issues that caused him to retire in April, the Nets will also be bringing back LaMarcus Aledridge.
Sources say it is unclear if the Nets will retain Okafor and Doumbouya, or decide to waive them. This will be determined over the next few days and weeks. Sources claim that the Nets plan to waive forward Alize Johnson.
The 2019 Nets free-agent class included Jordan and Kyrie Irving. In the beginning, Jordan was able to alternate between Jarrett Allen and Jordan at center. However, Jordan was eventually traded to Cleveland Cavaliers in a four-team deal that brought the Nets All NBA guard James Harden. Jordan's role changed after Blake Griffin was acquired by the Nets.
Jordan, 33 years old, averaged 7.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds last season in Brooklyn.
Okafor, 25, averaged 5.4 points and 2.4% rebounds in 27 games last year, but he missed more than two months due to left knee surgery. Doumbouya (20 years old) averaged 5.1 points per game and 2.6 rebounds over 56 games.
This report was contributed by Bobby Marks and Malika Andrews of ESPN.
