The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t waste much time when the NBA’s free agency negotiation window opened. Their first move was bringing back DeAndre Jordan, the veteran big man who quietly became one of the most important voices in their locker room last season.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the two sides reached an agreement early on the first day of negotiations. It’s not clear if Jordan had other offers on the table, but it didn’t take long for the Pelicans to lock him in.
More Than a Roster Spot
Jordan didn’t start last season on an NBA roster at all. He showed up to training camp without a deal, and the Pelicans didn’t sign him until after the regular season had already tipped off. But once he arrived, his impact was immediate — just not in the way most people think about when they hear “impact.”
The 2023 NBA champion won the league’s Teammate of the Year award, and for good reason. He spent a ton of time working with rookie big man Derik Queen, helping a first-year player adjust to the speed and physicality of the league. That kind of mentorship doesn’t show up in box scores, but the Pelicans clearly value it.
Jordan did see the floor now and then. He played in 12 games this season, starting seven of them, and averaged about 16 minutes a night. His numbers weren’t flashy — 4.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game — but he shot 65.6 percent from the field and a respectable 64.7 percent from the free-throw line. That’s not bad for a guy who wasn’t even on a roster when the season started.
A Long Road to 19 Seasons
This will be Jordan’s 19th season in the NBA. That’s a ridiculous number for a guy drafted 35th overall in 2008. He spent his first 10 seasons with the LA Clippers, anchoring the Lob City era alongside Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Since then, he’s bounced around — Dallas, New York, Brooklyn, the Lakers, Philly, Denver, and now New Orleans.
Jordan’s resume includes one All-Star appearance, three All-NBA selections, and two All-Defensive Team nods. But at this point in his career, his value has less to do with what he does on the court and more with what he brings to a young team trying to figure out how to win. The Pelicans are banking on that presence for another year.
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