DeAndre Jordan Joins the New Orleans Pelicans
Free agent center DeAndre Jordan arrives at the New Orleans Pelicans with a one-year contract for $3.6 million.
The Pelicans announced Jordan’s signing on Friday without revealing the terms of the agreement.
In New Orleans, Jordan will seek minutes in a frontcourt led by Zion Williamson, who has been absent for at least 12 games in each season of his NBA career. The Pelicans will not have Kevon Looney, who will miss the start of the season due to a left knee injury.
In the season opener against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Pelicans used Yves Missi and rookies Derik Queen and Hunter Dickinson as centers.
Missi, who started Wednesday’s game, is questionable to play Friday against the San Antonio Spurs after twisting his right ankle against the Grizzlies. He is listed as day-to-day.
Jordan was with the Pelicans on Friday morning and was expected to be available to play against the Spurs.
The three-time All-NBA and 2023 champion with the Denver Nuggets, is entering his eighteenth season in the league. Jordan, 37, spent the last three seasons with the Nuggets.
Brought in to be a veteran leader in Denver’s locker room, Jordan often proved to be the Nuggets’ most reliable option at backup center, appearing in 56 games last season, his most since 2020-21, averaging 3.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game.
Jordan has played in 1,111 career games, with 791 starts. The Pelicans are his eighth NBA team.