The only way DeAndre Jordan makes sense for Lakers

To get a good understanding of the situation, it’s important to know that Ronaldo has two main agents: Jorge Mendes and Simon de Quieroz. The former runs Ronaldo’s affairs for him, while the latter is a consultant for Mendes; they represent a large number of top players in the world, and are instrumental in the transfer market. The Ronaldo-Juventus situation has been a tense one: after four years at the Juventus, Ronaldo returned to United and signed a new £300,000-a-week, four-year deal in the summer of 2018.

It’s been five years since Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford for the Bernabeu in a world record £80m move after nine seasons with the Red Devils. After everything he’d achieved, it was hard to believe that Ronaldo would leave but that’s exactly what happened. The Madrid outfit also offered him bonuses of £30m each year, which he couldn’t turn down.

The possibility of DeAndre Jordan joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22 grew rapidly throughout Friday afternoon, culminating in reports that the veteran center will, after all, become the latest over-30 former All-Star to take the veteran’s minimum in exchange for a chance to compete alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Jordan was said to be on the Lakers’ radar earlier this week if he was bought out by the Brooklyn Nets. Jordan was dealt to the Detroit Pistons and quickly agreed to a buyout, allowing the 32-year-old to sign a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jordan doesn’t make sense for the Lakers with their present lineup. Another frontcourt player, like as a large wing defender or a stretch-4/5, would be beneficial to the Lakers. Jordan’s addition as a third (or fourth, including AD) center, though, seems questionable. Jordan is a beloved locker room guy with a comparable, but more washed-out game than Dwight Howard.

However, there is one significant stumbling block that may drive — and explain — the Lakers’ interest in DJ: Marc Gasol’s TBD status.

The contract of the Big Spaniard is up in a year. Despite originally stating that he will return to the Lakers following the Tokyo Olympics, rumors have suggested that Gasol may alter his mind. Can you really blame him after the Lakers screwed up his position last season, demoting him to the bench after guaranteeing Drummond the starting job?

The 36-year-old has the option of joining another NBA club, retiring, or following in the footsteps of his elder brother, Pau, and finishing his professional basketball career in his homeland.

On this one, the ship has sailed, but the Lakers would be better off persuading Gasol to stay and avoiding Jordan altogether.

At this point in their careers, Gasol is a better player than Jordan and a far better fit for the Lakers. In 2020-21, he hit 40% from three-point range and used his exceptional passing to create ball movement and flow. His defensive influence has decreased as his foot speed has slowed, but he is still an outstanding positional defender. Let’s just say DeAndre Jordan isn’t one of them.

More significantly, Gasol led the Lakers to a 28-14 record in games he started, including a 22-6 record before Davis’ injury on Feb. 14. Gasol, Davis, and James combinations had a 13.4 net rating during the season. Gasol became a sparkplug off-the-bench down the stretch after the ill-fated acquisition of Drummond.

More offensive production by Bron PF and Gasol C.

Caruso’s step-up screen creates a switch, allowing LeBron to attack the basket without Ayton in the way.

In the 12 possessions of Bron-Gasol time in the fourth quarter, LA scored 18 points. 1.5 points for each possession!! pic.twitter.com/VzNkB4JfLe

May 31, 2021 — Cranjis McBasketball (@Tim NBA)

Gasol had the third-highest effect on LA before COVID (according to our LEBRON metric).

Over the following several weeks, it fell more than almost any other Laker.

Then he got his bearings & rose more than any Laker over the final 3 weeks of the year.

It finished 4th behind Bron, AD, & AC.

3 September 2021 — Cranjis McBasketball (@Tim NBA)

Jordan, on the other side, is no longer a contender’s rotation player. For most of the season, he was a ceremonial starter for the Nets, averaging 7.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 57 games, only to be benched for the last 16 games, including the playoffs.

He’ll be a chemist and third-stringer on this Lakers squad, but it’s conceivable that the defensive-minded culture created by Frank Vogel may get a little more usage out of Jordan on that end of the court. Davis may have committed to playing center more often than we know, perhaps even beginning at No. 5.

The Lakers, with a center rotation of AD, Dwight, and DeAndre, are obviously trying to be more vertical inside after a season devoid of lobs and rim protection. That’s really clever. With Howard and JaVale McGee on board, Los Angeles did win the NBA title in 2020.

Jordan’s presence indicates that Gasol’s time with the Lakers is coming to an end, since just three players from the 2020-21 team will return (LeBron, AD, and Talen Horton-Tucker).

Jordan’s chances of making a major impact, with or without Gasol, are slim. For the sake of the Lakers, a return to Staples Center should revitalize DJ.

The only way DeAndre Jordan makes sense for Lakers

The-Evergreen-ship-blocking-Knicks-Hornets-from-playoff-contention