Sources: DeAndre Jordan intends to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after sign-and-trade and buyout

Three-time all-star center DeAndre Jordan intends to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after making a deal purchase with the Detroit Pistons, sources told ESPN.

Detroit acquired Jordan, four second-round picks and $ 5.78 million in a deal with Brooklyn on Friday with the intention of buying out the remaining two years and $ 20 million on Jordan’s contract, sources told ESPN.

Once the buyout contract is signed, Jordan must clarify waivers before becoming a free agent and signing with the Lakers. His contract terms make it practically impossible for Jordan to be called upon by a team.

The Nets received Jahlil Okafor and Sekou Doumbouya as part of the deal with Detroit, sources said. They will send the Pistons their second round picks for 2022 and 2027 along with the cheaper 2024 second round between the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies and the cheaper 2025 second round between the Wizards and Golden State Warriors, sources said.

Trading Jordan’s contract instead of buying it up offers the Nets short-term financial relief, but also in the future with the repeat tax penalty from 2023.

Brooklyn had the option of foregoing and extending the $ 19.7 million owed Jordan’s deal for five seasons; that would have meant a $ 3.9 million cap hit that would have lingered on the team’s books from 2021 to 2025. The move could have saved the Nets money on their luxury tax for the next two years, but it cost them an additional $ 20 million in 2023-24 and could reach $ 50 million in 2024-25 and 2025-26.

It’s not immediately clear whether the nets will keep Okafor or Doumbouya or decide to forego them, sources said. That should be determined in the coming days and weeks. The Nets plan to do without Alize Johnson, sources said.

Jordan will return to Los Angeles, where he spent the first 10 years of his career as a member of the Clippers. The Lakers have signed several veteran players on their bench – including eight-time all-star center Dwight Howard – and still have three-time all-star Marc Gasol on their roster.

Gasol came to LA with a championship pedigree from his time in Toronto and bloodlines connecting him to the franchise after his brother Pau teamed up with Kobe Bryant to win two titles with the franchise. Originally, Gasol was named the starting center after signing a two-year deal slightly above the veteran’s minimum contract, but struggled to find his shot early on as he was only 40.3% off the field before the All-Star break lap.

While Marc Gasol was brought to the Lakers in part because he was able to provide a secondary playmaker in the middle position, Jordan JaVale McGee brings similar skills with him. Before being traded away, McGee teamed up with Dwight Howard to flank Anthony Davis upfront as a vertical threat.

Jordan was part of a free agent signing class with Brooklyn that included Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in 2019. Initially, Jordan switched to the starting center with Jarrett Allen, who was eventually traded to Cleveland as part of the four-team deal that landed the Nets, All-NBA security guard James Harden. After the Nets acquired Blake Griffin, Aldridge, Jordan’s role declined.

Jordan averaged 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 57 games last season in Brooklyn.

ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Bobby Marks and Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.

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