DeAndre Jordan signed in 2019 with the Nets as part of a package deal that also included Kyrie Irving (Kevin Durant) and Kyrie Irving (Kyrie Irving). The two megastars agreed to lower-than-max contracts in order to keep cap space for Brooklyn's former All-Star center.
Jordan signed a four-year, $40million deal in Brooklyn two years ago. He was then traded to Detroit Pistons. Jordan was summarily waived and sent to Detroit.
Jordan switched from one star-studded roster to another and the big man realized that his relationship with the Nets dynamic duo was deteriorating as he left the team.
"We are definitely not friends anymore," ..." Jordan joked with a hearty laugh at his Thursday introductory video news conference.
He quickly assured them that their friendship was still intact. He was the Nets' role -- who relied on Blake Griffin at the 5th season, before signing LaMarcus Adler and Paul Millsap for their frontcourt rotation this year -- that changed.
Jordan stated, "We were friends before and after basketball. I think ultimately we just want to be happy." They know that being able compete is very important to them. We are brothers, beyond basketball. Being teammates is not going to affect or reflect on our relationship.
Jordan stated that his trade to Detroit for Sekou Donumbouya, Jahlil Okafor and four second-round draft selections, and $5.78million was a Nets deal. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Jordan received a $4 million buyout offer from the Pistons. He will also receive the minimum $2.6 million from his Lakers team.
He said, "It was only both parties wanted to find something that was best for us both." "And I feel like they gave us that respect as veteran players to be in a position to understand how I wanted to compete. It just worked better for both of us." It was just better for us both."
He will be joining a Lakers team with its own frontcourt stockpile of Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard, and Anthony Davis.
Jordan, 33, is the latest former All-Star player to join a Lakers team that already has Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo.
Although he does not have the same personal connections to the Lakers as Durant or Irving, he admires many of the players from afar.
Jordan shared, "Just to have the opportunity to be with a team such as this with guys you respect and guys you've competed with for the past -- going to my 14th season it has been great in seeing, ‘I wonder what would it be like to play alongside this guy.'" And you think about it all the time, regardless of what you tell others.
Jordan will be returning to L.A. where he played for the Clippers for 10 years.
Jordan stated, "Obviously, you see things differently as you age and frankly with the Clippers teams we had, it was some bad luck." "On the team I was on last season, we had some bad luck with injuries and small things like this. You don't want it to be taken for granted. ... "I'm thrilled to be able be here with these guys and build some chemistry. It's going be a long process, but I think we are all ready and excited for it."
