Los Angeles Lakers Should Target DeAndre Jordan
By Pablo Jacobo
The Los Angeles Lakers have been decimated by injuries the past few years. This past season they lost a total of eight players to season-ending injuries. This upcoming summer will be crucial to the success of the franchise for the next decade.
The Lakers head into the offseason with loads of cash, draft picks and a returning Kobe Bryant and Julius Randle. In terms of free agency, one player in particular would be a step in the right direction.
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The Lakers will have to look no further than across the hallway for DeAndre Jordan. Defense has been a huge issue for Los Angeles since the departure of Dwight Howard. The team itself was ranked one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. Other than free agent Ed Davis, there was no other defensive presence on the roster.
The 6-foot-11 center was in the running for defensive player of the year and will hit the market this summer. The Lakers should push to sign him the moment July 1 hits. Jordan averaged 11.5 points and 15 rebounds per game in the 2014-15 season, the second straight year he’s led the league in boards. Not only that, DeAndre was the second best offensive rebounder (4.8) in the league. His impact on the boards on both ends would be a welcome addition to a rebuilding team.
Jordan’s presence in the paint cannot go unnoticed as he averaged 2.23 blocks a game, fifth in the league. The Lakers have no shot-blocking presence in their front court. During the season, it seemed that every team scored uncontested layups. With Jordan patrolling the paint, that would immediately change. Coach Byron Scott always stressed defense from his team, so it makes sense for the Lakers to target a defensive-minded player.
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Offensively the Lakers don’t have to run many plays for Jordan; he finds ways to score with his relentless energy attacking the glass. Not to mention he’s available for alley-oops. In consecutive seasons, D.J. led the NBA in field goal percentage, granted off of put backs, alley-oop dunks and an occasional jump hook, but does it really matter how he scores? The Lakers will pay him for playing defense, anything else is a bonus. The Lakers will have plenty of scorers surrounding Jordan in Bryant, Jordan Clarkson, Nick Young, Jabari Brown and hopefully Randle.
DeAndre’s durability would also be a welcome addition to the Lakers. As I mentioned in the beginning, the injury bug has been very unkind to the purple and gold. Jordan has not missed a game in three consecutive seasons. Half the Lakers roster can’t say that. His only deterrent is his free throw shooting (39.7). Commissioner Adam Silver will look into abolishing the hack-a-whoever next season which would protect the Lakers from that annoying tactic.
Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge are the sexy pics fans are clamoring for but DeAndre fits a huge need for the Lakers. Jordan’s durability and defense overshadows the glamour of a star signing. Love and Aldridge will command the max from L.A. and I think the Lakers can probably get Jordan for under the max. Obviously convincing him to leave a playoff caliber team would be difficult, but if the Clippers get bounced from the first round again, the Clips may head in another direction next season. They could let Jordan walk and opt to add depth around their super star duo of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul.
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The upcoming draft will dictate the direction the team takes in free agency. The Lakers secured the fourth-worst record and have an 80-percent chance of selecting one of the top-5 prospects. For the sake of this article, the Lakers land the third pick. Assuming Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns are off the board, I personally like D’Angelo Russell and Justise Winslow. Defense is the Lakers priority so I would take the 6-foot-7 National champion Winslow out of Duke who is effective on both ends of the court. Winslow solves their issue on the wing.
Securing a defensive tandem of Jordan and Winslow would be a fantastic summer for the Lakers. Also if they manage to sign Rajon Rondo under market value, that would be another solid signing. Reports indicate that the Lakers are the only team willing to offer him a contract. That could play into their favor with no other bidders. Bringing in a motivated Rondo at a cheap price would be an under the radar signing.
Point being, adding DeAndre to the Lakers would be a smart signing. Pairing him next to Randle would let the 6-foot-9 power forward flourish in the paint and would offer rim protection behind the rookie. Adding Jordan, Winslow and possibly Rondo would be a huge plus towards the future.