DeAndre Jordan Is In Danger Of Being Cut By The Lakers

The LA Lakers need to get something going, because they haven’t had the best start this season. A cut could be on the way.

Rob Pelinka will have to make some difficult decisions as the NBA trade deadline looms. Given the troubles of veteran centre DeAndre Jordan, the Los Angeles Lakers may be forced to make a tough decision.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Jordan is at risk of being cut to keep one of the team’s recent 10-day contract acquisitions, such as forward Stanley Johnson. Windhorst explained the situation during the December 28 edition of The Hoop Collective podcast.

“A team to watch is the Lakers, so the Lakers have a full roster and they’re cost sensitive, But DeAndre Jordan is playing very poorly for them, and basically LeBron is playing a lot of minutes at center right now. I don’t think he’s starting at center but the second half on Christmas they started him at center…or they played Carmelo for a few minutes at center, which was laughable.”

Advertising

Advertising

“It could be a situation where the Lakers are like, we’re going to cut DeAndre Jordan to keep a player, possibly, if Stanley Johnson works out or something like that.”

Jordan has the lowest plus-minus of any player on the Lakers’ roster this season. Jordan is averaging 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and.9 blocks in 13.2 minutes per game, which are among his career lows.

Although it is a limited sample size, Johnson has been an effective player for the Lakers in his two outings. In 29.5 minutes a game, Johnson averages eight points, three rebounds, 1.5 assists, and a steal.

Johnson’s shooting has been a source of criticism throughout his NBA career, as the forward is a lifetime 29.7 percent three-point shooter. Johnson’s performance has already piqued the interest of LeBron James.

“Energy and effort, and I thought Stanley was phenomenal,” James noted after the Lakers’ loss to the Nets on Christmas Day, per USA Today. “Just taking the challenge on James (Harden) and obviously, James did what he does, but I think he just took the challenge.”

Windhorst feels that several of the players who signed 10-day contracts, including Johnson, have the chance to stay on the squad. Let’s see what the NBA decides on Jordan and if Johnson gets called up to the team.