When DeAndre Jordan signed with the Nets as a free agent in 2019, his friendships with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were key factors in his decision. Having departed Brooklyn this offseason, he made it clear that he remains close with Durant and Irving, but that the time was right for he and the Nets to move in different directions after he fell out of the team’s rotation at the end of last season.
“It was just both parties wanted to figure out something that was best for both of us,” Jordan said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “And I feel like they gave me that respect as a veteran player to be able to understand that I wanted to be able to compete. … It just worked better for both of us.”
Jordan isn’t necessarily as close with anyone on his new team (the Lakers) as he was with Durant and Irving, but he said on Thursday that he’s looking forward to getting the opportunity to team up with several veterans that he has matched up against frequently over the years.
“Just to be able to be with a team like this with guys that you respect and guys that you’ve competed against for the past — going into my 14th season has been great in seeing, ‘I wonder what it would be like to play with this guy,'” Jordan said. “And you always think about that, whether you tell people or not.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Suns point guard Chris Paul called it an “easy decision” to return to Phoenix as a free agent this offseason, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. “Not only did I love the basketball aspect, I’m close to family (in Los Angeles) and Phoenix is a family, too,” Paul said. “I’m excited to be back there.”
- Tyrese Haliburton‘s name has popped up in trade speculation this offseason, though multiple reports have stated the Kings don’t intend to include him in any offer for Ben Simmons. For his part, Haliburton laughed off those trade rumors, as James Ham of NBC Sports Bay Area relays. “I kind of just laugh about it,” Haliburton said during an appearance on J.J. Redick‘s The Old Man and the Three podcast. “I don’t really think it’s that realistic. I don’t see it happening.”
- Seth Cooper, who had been a player development coach in Golden State, will be the head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League this season, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link). Kris Weems, who was the head coach in Santa Cruz, will join the NBA team as a player development coach, Slater adds.
CP3: Plus the money and term. Lol.
He’s been underrated most of his career
By the Win Share and Win Shares/per 48 minute stats (basketball reference site). He’s been the equal of Kobe Bryant.
Key words, “in the regular season.”
That’s the thing though. If Paul stays people say it is “all about the money”. If he takes less and goes to the Lakers well then he’s “ring chasing”.
If Lakers offered him close to the amount the Suns offered he wouldn’t be a ring chaser. A ring chaser is somebody who takes way below market value to sign with a team.
The Lakers would rather have him than Russ. Even if he was making that 44 million dollar option they would rather have him than Russ.
So KD wasn’t chasing a ring then.
How exactly has Chris Paul been underrated for most of his career?
Pretty much everyone acknowledges that he’s one of the best pure PG’s in recent history. But despite the support of one single stat, it’s absolutely ridiculous to say he has been the equal of Kobe. We’re talking about a guy who has barely averaged 18 PPG throughout his career. Is he a Hall of Famer? Of course he is. Is he one of the 10 best players of all time? No.
Weems will coach Wiseman, Moody, Kuminga, Poole and Kerr gets everyone else? Like it.
Marty must live in Siberia. He obviously doesn’t get any news about the changes in the Warriors coaching staff. He is commenting on things that took place months ago. He is always about a few weeks late, and a couple of hundred dollars short.
Halibutton/barnes/badgley and 1st for simmons
Don’t worry Mr Haliburton I was laughing as well, you know!
I mean it is absolutely clear that you will never be at a level anywhere similar to Ben, that is for sure, guaranteed, so yes swapping him for you is totally laughable!