Free agent center DeAndre Jordan is signing a one-year, $3.6 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management told ESPN's Shams Charania on Friday.
Jordan, a three-time All-NBA center and 2023 champion with the Denver Nuggets, is entering his 18th season in the league.
The 37-year-old had spent the past three seasons with the Nuggets. Brought in to be a veteran leader in Denver's locker room, Jordan often proved to be the Nuggets' most reliable option at backup center, and he appeared in 56 games last season, his most since 2020-21, while averaging 3.7 points and 5.1 rebounds.
In New Orleans, Jordan will look to find playing time on a front line led by star Pelicans big man Zion Williamson, who has missed at least 12 games in every year of his NBA career. The Pelicans also used a trio of centers -- Yves Missi and rookies Derik Queen and Hunter Dickinson -- during their season-opening loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
