SEPTEMBER 4: The trade is official, according to a Brooklyn press release.
“We appreciate everything DeAndre has contributed to our organization over the past two seasons both on and off the court and wish him and his family the best moving forward,” Nets GM Sean Marks said in a statement.
SEPTEMBER 3: The Nets and Pistons have reached an agreement on a trade, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link), who reports that Detroit will acquire center DeAndre Jordan, four second-round picks, and $5.78MM in cash. Brooklyn will receive Jahlil Okafor and Sekou Doumbouya in return.
The draft picks headed to Detroit in the deal are the Nets’ own 2022 and 2027 second-round picks, plus the Wizards’ or Grizzlies’ 2024 second-rounder (whichever is more favorable) and the Warriors’ or Wizards’ 2025 second-rounder (whichever is more favorable), sources tell ESPN (Twitter link).
According to Wojnarowski, the plan is for the Pistons to work out a buyout agreement with Jordan, who has about $20MM left on his contract over the next two years.
The Nets had been trying for much of the offseason to find a taker for Jordan, a three-time All-NBA center who joined the team as a free agent in 2019 along with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving but fell out of the rotation in 2020/21. A report earlier this week indicated Jordan and the Nets were exploring a possible buyout — now it’ll be up to the Pistons to complete those talks.
Although the Nets had to give up four second-round picks to dump Jordan’s salary, the financial benefits will be significant. Jordan is making more than Okafor and Doumbouya combined this year and has multiple years left on his contract, while Okafor and Doumbouya are on expiring deals. Wojnarowski estimates (via Twitter) that the club will save $47MM in the deal after accounting for salaries and projected tax penalties.
That money could be reinvested in buying back second-round picks down the road. However, as Woj points out, Brooklyn is confident in its ability to acquire minimum-salary talent to complement its Durant/Irving/James Harden core, as the team did this week by reaching an agreement with Paul Millsap.
The Nets will also acquire a pair of players in the deal, though it’s unclear if either Okafor or Doumbouya is in their plans. The team will have 14 players on guaranteed contracts and one (DeAndre’ Bembry) on a partial guarantee even before accounting for the incoming Pistons. Perhaps the Nets will give Doumbouya – 2019’s No. 15 pick – a shot, but I’d be surprised if they retain Okafor.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (via Twitter), Brooklyn will create a $6.27MM trade exception in the swap, which is the difference between Jordan’s $9.88MM salary and Doumbouya’s $3.61MM figure. Okafor can be acquired using the minimum salary exception, so the Nets don’t need to match his salary.
As for the Pistons, they’ll take on some dead money as a result of this transaction, but the pros outweigh the cons. Detroit had traded away its own second-round picks from 2022 through 2026 in previous deals, so this gives general manager Troy Weaver a chance to restock his cache of draft assets. Additionally, the $5.78MM in cash the Pistons are getting in the deal – which is the max the Nets could offer – will help cover some of Jordan’s salary.
On top of that, the Pistons had been facing a roster crunch, with 16 players on guaranteed contracts. A two-for-one trade, followed by a Jordan buyout, will reduce that number to 14, giving Detroit an open roster spot to work with. The club could give a camp invitee such as Jamorko Pickett the opportunity to earn that spot this fall or could simply carry 14 players to start the regular season.
Once Jordan is bought out, he’ll be officially placed on waivers and will become an unrestricted free agent two days later. Multiple recent reports have suggested the Lakers are a suitor to keep an eye on, and Wojnarowski reiterates that point today (via Twitter), calling Los Angeles a “serious contender” to sign the veteran center.
Once bought out I say he signs with the clippers
They are saying the Lakers
Yeah but they say that about every veteran that gets bought out. They said that about Kevin love too. It’s only because of lebron.
LaMarcus Aldridge is returning on a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets,
Link?
so BRK now has Okafor, Noel, and TLC? how bout that.
When did Brooklyn get Noel
Never
Check the last Pistons post. Called it out a day ago!! But thought it would be Jackson and okafor
Yep! And I said it would be a huge mistake (and luckily I took out my comment about a trade like that NEVER HAPPENING!)
Jackson and Okafor wouldn’t save the nets enough. They’re about 7.5 million combined. Besides I think Jackson holds more value as a deadline trade chip or as a possible injury replacement to a contender.
More interested in what Jordan might be willing to leave on the table in order to get out of Detroit in a buyout. They moved off about 13 million of Griffins deal which was pretty darn good IMO. Can they do it again
Jackson is better. DET looks good in this.
I think everyone knew that Dekou was a goner. He has been on the team two years with maybe 3 games of max effort. He always looks lost out on the court and that’s due to his lack of instincts. Weaver has something else in mind and getting back 4 2nd picks allows them to make future trades. I like Garza’s outside game so this will give him a shot to contribute.
Bucks make some sense for Jordan
Lopez Portis only bigs on roster
Def need another C
I kept saying that about MIL last year and they never did add another big. I guess it worked out okay for them though.
Jordan to the Purple and Gold. Why, I don’t know.
Looks like Luka will get some PT
For sure….he’s going to get a shot and I think he makes it.
Four 2nds is a lot but article makes a good point that 47M can probably buy a few back.
Ultimately, Brooklyn is still *the* frontrunner for the title this year, IMO. And probably has a 3-4 window as a contender regardless of this deal so can’t hammer them too hard
Four second round picks is a lot? That’s barely as much as one first rounder.
But the Nets should be considered the current favorites, if they stay healthy.
IDK I disagree. Seconds are unprotected (and two are swaps I believe), so those four could all be in the 30’s — which would make them very close to being late first rounders.
Seconds have real value IMO.
But to be fair they don’t have as much value when you have Harden Durant and Kyrie on the same roster.
But late first rounders don’t really have that much value either.
Plenty of HoF players have been chosen in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounds.
+ They have shown the ability to not being a complete doormat to *friendships in the future
Part of the maturing for these stars has to be having a basic understanding of the cap before pressuring their own FO to make bad decisions
As long as Durants around I don’t see Brk going anywhere, they’ve had a fantastic offseason to date as well, + the 47 mill will help future offseasons …Kyrie take *small note today as the DJ exits the building
Durant won two championships with the Warriors, so why can’t he get a third one with the Nets? Harden had never missed a significant amount of time before last season, so there’s a good chance he should be available for 70-80 games. So if KD and Kyrie are also available for the majority of the season there’s a good chance they win 60 games in a very weak and top-heavy eastern conference.
“Weak too heavy eastern”
So you forget that West had the 2 of the top 3 worst records last year? Or we just forget about real stuff and choose to remember what GWP tells us?
I wonder if Harden is proud of the fact that in your eyes, he’s the one former Rockets player that didn’t turn into hot garbage once they left the organization
Very true on Kyrie.
Wasn’t that long ago it seemed DeAndre was untouchable for very non-basketball reasons, ha.
BS69- Yup, and if they want to be a dynamo team the next 3~4 yrs they can’t do that kinda stuff moving forward; I think they do / and won’t –
*Durant landed in a good spot for his final hurrah….. I hope he follows his advisors words and just stays hush on the mic/twitter-sphere the next couple years
If Durant stays in his lane he will be remembered a TRUE Legend, things get weird in Brk next couple years this new culture will bury him in the history books with shoulder shrug emojis (unfairly) – Up to him Now
Great trade for both teams
BKN did well simply by moving DJ (20 mm in cap space over 2 years) without relinquishing at least a protected 1st (which they didn’t have to trade). There’s about 14-15 mm in purchased cap space (net) and that’s what is generally required. The real savings is in 2022-23, and this gives them some flexibility.
Good trade for Brooklyn
How are they saving $47MM when Jordan only has $20MM left on the deal and they took back salary and sent nearly $6MM in the deal? Is that a tax figure?
Probably taking into account the luxury tax savings.
His, And they just added Aldridge and his 2.6. Must be tax savings.
In reviewing the actual numbers I find it hard to believe that they would be saving anywhere close to 47M. Maybe Mr. Adams could explain.
I didn’t go through and do the calculations myself, though I’m sure Woj’s figure is coming from Bobby Marks and I trust his math.
It looks like the Nets will be at least $30MM over the tax line this year, and teams that far into the tax are charged an extra $4.75 for every dollar they spend, so even trimming $4.1MMish off team salary like the Nets are in this deal would result in about $20MM in tax savings. I imagine the other half of the $47MM comes in 2022/23 salary and taxes.
In reviewing the salaries that went back and forth and the addition of Aldridge to replace Okafor here is what I see:
Jordan 10 million in 2021-22 and 22-23. That the Nets traded off.
But the Nets assumed 1.8 million for Okafor in 2021-22 and 2.1 in 22-23.
The Nets assumed 3.6million for Doumboya in 21-22.
The Nets assumed 2.6 (and probably a similar anoint in 22-23) for Aldridge this year and someone in 22-23 as a replacement for Jordan. So call it 5.2 million over two years.
Paid out 5.8 million.
Even assuming Okafor is released and signed by someone else (thus offsetting what the Nets owe him) that only saves 2 million a year. But if Okafor is released, but not signed then Nets assumed 7.5 million and will be paying a replacement 5.2 million (or a combined 12.2 million). Can’t believe a net savings on salary of 7.8 million plus paying out 5.8 million amounts to a 47 million. Must include some projection of what 4 second round draft picks would cost (though even that is questionable as they can be sold).
Maybe Mr. Adams can explain as he posted it.
I believe the savings are attributed to using the stretch provision over the next several years
Johnny explain how that works please.
I assume the Nets will be tax payers so it might also include tax savings but I was hoping the article would mention tax savings and discuss it a little.
I don’t love estimating tax savings while a team is still making roster moves, since the penalties ultimately depend on how far above the tax line the team ends up. For instance, a team is only taxed $1.50 per dollar if they’re for amounts up to $5MM over the tax line, but an amount $30-35MM over the tax line (which I believe is the ballpark the Nets are in now), is $4.75 per dollar.
The $47MM estimate from Woj (which, as I noted in a comment thread above, is likely coming from Bobby Marks) is likely based on current projections of how far the Nets are into the tax this year and next year, but those savings could easily increase or decrease depending on where their team salary actually lands at season’s end.
I think the tax is not figured until the last game of the season… a lot can change, as said… but the Nets look for sure going over, and would even without Joe Harris lol.
Celtics need a big man
Money doesn’t mean anything to a team that’s trying to win. You should only question that when they are contenders and Don’t make those moves.
Okafor was a guy I like a lot coming out in draft. Thought he could be next Zach Randolph. But all he did was show grit and motor. To get drafted. Then has been coasting since. Some players just don’t love the game like I do. Or Bron or Kobe does. An NBA salary is all they are looking for. It’s sad to me, another Eddy Curry.
I’m so confused.. why on earth would you give up a promising 20 year old big man in Sekou… to do another team a favor???? Even more confusing.. why are people saying this was a smart thing to do?! Do people really think 4 2’s are better than Sekou?!?!?
He’s not a promising 20 year old. He’s a LOST 20 year old with no basketball instincts. He’s athletic for sure but he’s not a natural basketball player. Are you that blind? The Pistons have plenty of young players with much more potential and have played basketball since the cradle. It’s the biggest mistake Joe Dumars made with Darko. He took an “athletic” big man with potential over basketball players who have been playing basketball their entire lives. My gut says, “You take guys who are gym rats and devoted to the game over athletic players who have no basketball instincts”.
Athletic basketball players with no basketball instincts are a dime a dozen. Darko is the prime example of why you don’t draft players who only look good in a gym. Dekou has zero basketball instincts and looks lost out on the court. If he develops, it will take 3 to 5 years and the Pistons have better players to develop who can excel much quicker. I say good “riddance”!
Just more proof of how much these aged, shot veterans run the NBA, thanks to the salary cap rules that encourage teams like the Lakers. One thing the NFL is superior at is devotion to drafting and developing young talent. In the NBA, you’re lucky to ever end up a starter unless you are basically top 10 or extremely lucky. You’d have to be, basically, a top 5 pick in order for a team to have any patience.
Exaggerating a bit…
In Seku’s case I suspect Weaver’s ego played a part. But likely he didn’t have much longer and will need the GL anyway. More rookies should go there, but GMs want to show off their picks.
The Warriors are paying between salary and tax over $360M. The Nets something like $310M. The Lakers in the area of $190M. How are the Warriors and Nets making $$?
Because the NBA is a global phenomenon that prints its own $$$ basically, no team loses money, is just a great business!
I remember that when GSW was getting to the Finals for 5 years straight, they were making 11M$/per home game in the playoffs, that alone accounted for around 100M, then is all the RS games, TV, merchandise & so on & on…
As I said they just print their own money!