The New Orleans Pelicans have opted for continuity in their frontcourt, re-signing veteran center DeAndre Jordan to a two-year, fully guaranteed contract. The deal keeps the 37-year-old in New Orleans. Jordan, who will turn 38 later this month, will be entering his 19th NBA season.
This is not a minimum salary exception deal. Instead, the Pelicans will carry a significant cap hit for Jordan in the upcoming season, followed by another charge in the subsequent year. For a player who appeared in a career-low 12 games last season, averaging 4.4 points and 6.3 rebounds in 16.6 minutes, this commitment is noteworthy. Jordan's last five contracts have all been one-year minimum deals, making this multi-year, fully guaranteed agreement a significant departure from his recent career trajectory.
From a pure on-court production standpoint, this contract is difficult to justify. Jordan's days as a high-volume rebounder and rim protector are long past. He averaged just 0.8 blocks in his limited minutes last season. However, the Pelicans clearly value his off-court contributions. Jordan was widely praised for his role as a mentor to younger bigs, even earning the NBA's Teammate of the Year award in April. His presence in the locker room, particularly for a team still trying to establish a consistent winning culture around Zion Williamson, seems to be the primary driver behind this seemingly generous deal.
The Pelicans' decision to fully guarantee both years and pay above the veteran's minimum for a player with Jordan's recent statistical output raises eyebrows, especially considering their current salary cap situation. New Orleans is already roughly $29 million over the salary cap. While they remain under the luxury tax threshold, opting for this structure over a reimbursable one-year minimum contract for a veteran suggests a strong belief in Jordan's intangible value, or perhaps a miscalculation of available cap flexibility. This move, the only free agency or trade market transaction for the Pelicans this offseason so far, underscores a quiet period for the front office.
Looking ahead, this two-year deal effectively ensures Jordan will achieve his stated goal of playing 20 seasons in the NBA, with the 2027-28 season marking his 20th year in the league. It also means that any significant roster shake-up involving their younger bigs will likely see Jordan continue in his veteran leadership role, rather than being an expendable contract. The Pelicans' commitment here suggests they view their center rotation as set, at least from a mentorship perspective, for the foreseeable future.
