2. The Los Angeles Lakers are the only team that makes sense for DeAndre Jordan
Jordan obviously won’t have his choice of team if he is traded by the Brooklyn Nets. If bought out he is going to have his choice from an array of contending teams that are looking to add size, which, quite frankly, might not be as long as a list as it was for someone such as Andre Drummond last season.
Regardless of how many teams are interested in Jordan, there is not a better team for him to sign with than the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only is he joining a team where he can have a proper role, but he is joining the NBA title favorites in the West.
That is the most important thing to consider if Jordan hits the free-agent market. He is at the point of his career where he is in full ring-chase mode and a potential buyout means he would be getting bought out from the NBA title favorites heading into the season.
It is hard to see Jordan getting bought out and then signing with some mid-tier playoff team like the Portland Trail Blazers. He is going to look for the next-best place to win a championship and in that pursuit, it is the Los Angeles Lakers and then everyone else.
There is zero doubt that returning to LA and donning the purple and gold would be the no. 1 scenario for Jordan if he was bought out, he just has to hope that the Lakers are interested.
And based on their need for another big and the poor market right now, chances are they will be.