Nuggets re-sign former All-Star center
The Denver Nuggets are bringing back one of their established veterans for at least one more year.
On Saturday, the Nuggets re-signed backup center DeAndre Jordan to a one-year contract worth $3.6M, according to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.
Jordan hasn’t been a huge contributor for the Nuggets on the court. The three-time All-NBA center averaged just 3.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season in limited minutes.
But Jordan does serve the vital role of being the team’s veteran voice in the locker room. He also has a solid relationship with Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic, who spoke fondly of Jordan during Denver’s recent playoff run.
Jordan was once a dunk machine whose highlights constantly went viral during the nascent years of X, the site formerly known as Twitter.
Denver’s decision to keep Jordan around probably wasn’t too hard given that the dollar amount didn’t put much of a dent on their salary cap. But the same can’t be said about one of the Nuggets’ other veterans who appears to be heading elsewhere in free agency.
Free-agent center DeAndre Jordan plans to remain with the Nuggets on a one-year, $3.6M deal, sources tell Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report.
Jordan, 35, will be committing to a third season with the Nuggets after signing as a free agent in 2022, just in time for the team’s championship run. His on-court presence has diminished from his peak years, but he’s still a strong locker-room presence who can provide rim protection and a lob threat when needed.
Jordan appeared in 36 games this season, making two starts while averaging 3.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 11 minutes per night. Operating exclusively near the basket, his shooting percentage remained high at 62.4%.
A second-round draft pick by the Clippers in 2008, Jordan had his best years in L.A., earning one All-Star appearance and becoming a central part of the “Lob City” teams. He had brief stays with the Mavericks, Knicks, Nets, Lakers and Sixers before coming to Denver.
The veteran’s minimum salary for a player with 10 or more years of experience is projected to be worth a little over $3.3M, so it will be interesting to see whether Jordan’s new deal is actually worth $3.6M or if it will come in as a minimum deal. Denver’s proximity to the luxury tax line and the aprons makes every dollar important and a minimum salary would only count as $2.1M for salary cap and tax purposes.
The agreement with Jordan takes care of one Nuggets question mark before the start of free agency on Sunday evening. The team’s priority is re-signing shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who declined his player option on Thursday. Vlatko Cancar and Justin Holiday are also unrestricted free agents.
