Sixers sign DeAndre Jordan as another backup center option for thin frontcourt
The Sixers have been searching for somebody to fill the role vacated by Andre Drummond, who was a late inclusion in the blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets that brought James Harden to Philly.
Los Angeles Lakers center DeAndre Jordan dunks over Charlotte Hornets center Mason Plumlee in the first quarter at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021.Read moreRobert Gauthier / MCT
After clearing waivers, veteran center DeAndre Jordan has officially signed with the 76ers, the team announced Thursday night.
The Sixers quickly emerged as a front-runner to land Jordan after the Los Angeles Lakers waived him earlier this week, according to a report by ESPN. He averaged 4.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in 32 games (19 starts) this season.
Advertisement
Jordan’s addition gives the Sixers another backup center option after Andre Drummond was a late inclusion in the blockbuster trade that sent him, Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and two first-round draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for James Harden and Paul Millsap. Since then, Sixers coach Doc Rivers has been adamant that the Sixers would canvas the buyout market for a replacement.
The 37-year-old Millsap has been the Sixers’ backup center the past four games with mediocre-at-best results, averaging 4.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.2 minutes. Paul Reed and Charles Bassey, who on Thursday was recalled from the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats, are other internal options to fill that role.
The Sixers also signed 7-footer Willie Cauley-Stein to a 10-day contract last week, but he never played meaningful minutes and was released from his deal to make room on the roster for Jordan to sign.
The 33-year-old Jordan was once one of the NBA’s most athletically gifted big men, most notably as the receiver of a barrage of authoritative alley-oop dunks during the “Lob City” Los Angeles Clippers era. He also led the NBA in field-goal percentage five consecutive seasons from 2012-17, ranked first in the league in rebounding two consecutive seasons from 2013-15 and was an All-Star from 2016-17. But his production has steadily dropped off in recent seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Lakers.
Jordan’s arrival reunites him with Rivers, who was his coach during his Clippers tenure. Jordan was also briefly a teammate of Sixers forward Tobias Harris while both players were with the Clippers.
James Harden of the Sixers comes out on the court to take part in his first home game since being traded to the the Sixer. of the Sixers and of the Knicks during the first half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Bearded fans record the moment as James Harden of the Sixers comes out on the court to take part in his first home game since being traded to the the Sixers. The Sixers played the Knicks during at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden warms up for the first time at home before his game with the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden warms up for the first time at home before his game with the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
James Harden of the Sixers warms up to take part in his first home game since being traded to the the Sixer. of the Sixers and of the Knicks during the first half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden of the Sixers during warm-ups to take part in his first home game since being traded to the the Sixers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
A fan with a sign for Sixers James Harden before his game with the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers fan Alan Horwitz wearing a Harden beard with Sixers James Harden at right before his game with the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden warms up for the first time at home before his game with the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
James Harden of the Sixers is introduced as part of the starting lineup in his first home game since being traded to the the Sixers. The Sixers were playing the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden is introduced for the first time at home before his game with the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
James Harden, right, of the Sixers goes up for a shot against Alec Burks of the Knicks during the first half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden, center, of the Sixers scores between Jericho Sims, left, and Evan Fournier, right of the Knicks in his first home game since being traded to the the Sixer the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden collides with Knicks Cam Reddish during there 4th quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Sixers beat the Knicks 123-108Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey, left, of the Sixers and Alec Burks of the Knicks collide while going after a loose ball during the first half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
tobias Harris, right, of the Sixers and Alec Burks of the Knicks collide while going after a loose ball during the first half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, center, of the Sixers blocks a shot by Julius Randle of the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers Tyrese Maxey drives on Knicks Immanuel Quickley during there 3rd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey of the Sixers celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer against the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden, left, comes off the bench to celebrate with Tyrese Maxey of the Sixers after Maxey hit a 3-pointer against the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey of the Sixers celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer against the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers calls play against the Knicks during there 4th quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Sixers beat the Knicks 123-108Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, 2nd from right, of the Sixers has the ball stripped away by Evan Fournier of the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers Joel Embiid is fouled against the Knicks during there 3rd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers Joel Embiid shoots over Knicks Immanuel Quickley during there 2nd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey, left, of the Sixers is fouled by Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey, center, of the Sixers is sandwiched between Evan Fournier, left, and Immanuel Quigley of the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey, 2nd from left, of the Sixers gets a pat on the head by teammate Joel Embiid during their victory over the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tobias Harris, right, of the Sixers reacts to being called for a foul. R.J.Barrett of the Knicks is left. The action took place during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, center, of the Sixers has the ball stripped away by R.J.Barrett of the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, left, of the Sixers and R.J.Barrett of the Knicks go after a loose ball during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden of the Sixers raises his arms to the crowd late in their victory over the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden celebrates with the fans as the go on to beat the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Sixers beat the Knicks 123-108Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
James Harden of the Sixers raises his arms to the crowd late in their victory over the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden throws a pass over Knicks Evan Fournier during there 1st quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden gets fouled by Knicks Cam Reddish during there 2nd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Knicks Jericho Sims throws a pass over Sixers Georges Niang during there 1st quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden waits for play to resume against the Knicks during there 1st quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden high fives his teammates during the final second against the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Sixers beat the Knicks 123-108Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers bench watches the final seconds against the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Sixers beat the Knicks 123-108Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
James Harden, center, of the Sixers hugs Isaiah Joe after their victory over the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden of the Sixers waks off the court after his first home game since being traded to the the Sixer. The Sixers defeated the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
I have been a 76ers beat writer at The Inquirer since 2021, and also cover other Philly basketball stories. I especially love reporting and writing pieces that lift the curtain on the Sixers' people and process (pun sometimes intended), and that help readers feel connected to the teams they follow.
