NBA Rumors: DeAndre Jordan, Nuggets Agree to 1-year, $3.6M Contract in Free Agency
Tyler Conway@@jtylerconwayFeatured Columnist IVJune 30, 2024
Alika Jenner/Getty Images
The Denver Nuggets and free-agent center DeAndre Jordan agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract Saturday, according to Bleacher Report and TNT’s Chris Haynes.
Jordan spent the last two seasons with the Nuggets as a backup to Nikola Jokic. He averaged 3.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 2023-24, remaining an effective rebounder and finisher at the rim in limited minutes.
The Nuggets will likely look for Jordan to play a similar role next season as he hits age 36. He has played on a series of minimum contracts since being released by the Detroit Pistons in 2021, suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Nuggets along the way.
Before Jordan’s new deal, the Nuggets were $74.498 over the cap, per Spotrac, but were $8.272 million under the first apron and $19.103 million under the second apron, so his $3.6 million isn’t a huge financial burden for the 2023 champs.
Nikola Jokić, C: $51.4M (2028)
Jamal Murray, PG: $36M (2025)
Michael Porter Jr., SF: $35.9M (2027)
Aaron Gordon, PF: $23.8M (2026)
Zeke Nnaji, PF: $8.9M (2028)
DeAndre Jordan: $3.6M (2025)
Christian Braun, SG: $3.1M (2026)
Julian Strawther, SF: $2.6M (2027)
Peyton Watson, SG: $2.4M (2026)
Jalen Pickett, PG: $1.9M (2027)
Hunter Tyson, SF: $1.9M (2027)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG: Player option
Reggie Jackson, PG: Player option
Justin Holiday, SG: UFA
Vlatko Čančar, PF: Club option
Jay Huff, C: RFA
Braxton Key, SF: RFA
A three-time All-NBA selection, Jordan spent his first 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. Former Clippers coach Doc Rivers recently said Jordan should have his jersey retired by the franchise.
“He was the original one. He’s All-Defense, Olympic gold medalist, NBA champion,” said Rivers. “He stayed there the longest, was traded, never just left.”
While Rivers’ quote wasn’t accurate—Jordan did choose to leave in free agency in 2018—it goes to show what an impressive career he had with the Clippers. As Jordan plays out the final stretch of his career in Denver, you can still see occasional flashes of what made him so dominant in his 20s.
