‘An Entirely Unforced Error’ — Pelicans Make Baffling $3 Million Mistake In Re-Signing of Former NBA All-Star
· Yahoo Sports
The New Orleans Pelicans reportedly re-signed veteran big man DeAndre Jordan to a two-year, guaranteed $7.9 million deal. Jordan returns for two more years after spending this past season with the team.
Right after the deal was announced, an NBA analyst questioned the decision, which cost the Pelicans $3 million more.
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Pelicans’ Re-Signing of Former NBA All-Star Draws Sharp Criticism Over $3 Million Error
The Pelicans’ decision to give the former All-Star center a two-year guaranteed deal was met with sharp criticism from Austin Robert, who tweeted:
“I was informed by someone in the league that the NBA prorate of vet min. Deals only applies to 1-year deals. So the Pelicans will be paying the entire $7.9M. ‘His comment was, ‘I don’t think they understood the rule,’ referring to Joe Dumars.'”
Robert continued: “All they had to do was sign DJ to two separate 1-year deals. This is an entirely unforced error. I’m pretty baffled how this happened.”
The NBA analyst pointed out what the mistake cost the Pelicans.
“Someone should REALLY point out to Gayle that Dumars cost her an addition $3M that the league would have paid if he understood the CBA,” Robert wrote.
Jordan, heading into his 19th season in the NBA, was eligible for $3,876,529, but only $2,449,421 would be on the Pelicans’ payroll.
The league would have covered the difference had he been signed to a one-year deal. By giving him two years, he goes to the Pelicans’ books for the entire duration of the contract.
This past season, the former Los Angeles Clippers center played just 12 games, seven of them as a starter, averaging 4.4 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Despite his limited production, he was considered a crucial locker room voice and a mentor to emerging star Derik Queen, the Pelicans’ 2025 lottery pick.
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The Pelicans wanted to keep Jordan around Queen and the other young players, and to also add frontcourt depth. After the team declined Kevon Looney’s $8 million team option, New Orleans needed another big man behind Queen, Yves Missi, and Zion Williamson. Jordan also brings championship DNA, having won one with the Denver Nuggets in 2023.
Jordan, who said multiple times in the past that he wanted to reach two decades in the NBA, will get that with his newly signed deal.