The 76ers are set to acquire DeAndre Jordan from the Lakers
The Philadelphia 76ers are on the hunt for another center and they may have just found their man in the Lakers' DeAndre, who could arrive as a free agent..
Having recently bolstered their roster with some serious reinforcements, it seems the Sixers aren't done just yet
Philadelphia 76ers look to sign DeAndre Jordan
According to reports on Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers have established them as the front-runners to acquire the services of center DeAndre Jordan either as a waiver claim or a free-agent signing. In need of a center the Sixers have stepped up their efforts to cover the position, having recently included Andre Drummond in the trade-deadline deal which saw James Harden arrive from the Brooklyn Nets. With Jordan recently waived by the Lakers the Sixers may have just found their man.
Who is DeAndre Jordan?
At 33 years of age, Jordan is a two-time All-NBA defensive first-team choice (2015 and '16). Also selected to the All-NBA first team with the he LA Clippers in 2016, the big man signed a one-year, $2.6 million minimum deal to join the Lakers this season. Should he join the Sixers through free agency as opposed to waivers he will save them some $2.3 million in luxury tax. It is now simply a matter of waiting to see, as Philadelphia most definitely have an open spot on their roster. To date, Jordan has started 19 games this season with the Lakers before ultimately dropping out of their rotation.
Why did the Lakers cut DeAndre Jordan?
As recently as 2017, Jordan was was an All-Star and then in 2019 he was signed a four year, $40 million contract. How then did he get to the point that he's at now, which is to say, out of work? The simple answer is that the Lakers are attempting to stop the rot. Of course that's not to say that Jordan is responsible for it, but it became clear that he was surplus to requirements and with their intention to sign D.J. Augustin, it's now clear that Los Angeles are trying to find greater balance in a team that has so far under performed significantly.
Augustin at 34 years old has played 34 games for the Houston Rockets on the season so far. In that time he has averaged 5.4 points and 2.2 assists. Where the Lakers are concerned, it is clear that they need cover at point guard for Russell Westbrook having traded Rajon Rondo to the Cleveland Cavaliers back in January. Watch this space!