DeAndre Jordan Brooklyn Nets
Photo: Newsday.com

Brooklyn Nets signed DeAndre Jordan alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving two seasons ago, however the veteran big parted ways with the team this offseason.

Jordan was eventually traded to the Detroit Pistons and then was bought out before signing with the Nets’ NBA title rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Brooklyn never wanted to sign Jordan to a $40 million deal. Here’s what Fischer said in a recent live audio session on the Halftime app:

(via sportskeeda.com):

“I have been told that Brooklyn never wanted to sign DeAndre to a four-year contract and that it got announced….in the excitement of landing Kevin and Kyrie, and it was basically told to Brooklyn in hindsight, after they kind of even agreed to a two-year deal, that no, if you want these other guys, you are taking DeAndre at this four-year contract and that I think has also been a source of tension and something that’s bubbled beneath the surface for a long-time now as well.”

Jordan was slowly become a deep-end bench option for the Nets last season. He missed the last 16 straight games of the 2020-21 season. He was not effective either on the offensive or defensive end.

The veteran center saw his production fall the last two seasons in Brooklyn. He posted 8.7 rebounds and one block per game over the last two years.

As a result, Nic Claxton and Blake Griffin climbed up Steve Nash’s rotation to become the two main rotational pieces in the center position for the Nets.