NBA Trade Deadline: Washington Wizards Pushing for DeAndre Jordan
The Washington Wizards continue to express interest in a trade for Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan as the NBA trade deadline 2018 looms.
The rejuvenated Washington Wizards are riding high on a five-game winning streak, the team’s longest of the season as they push to make a deal happen before Thursday’s 3:00 p.m. ET NBA trade deadline 2018.
One name that continues to surface in Wizards trade rumors is Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan. But, could a Jordan trade work for the Wizards?
According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the Wizards reportedly explored the trade market for Jordan without gaining any traction. Lowe also noted the Wizards ideal trade package to acquire Jordan:
"A package of Marcin Gortat, Jason Smith (perhaps heading to a third team), Kelly Oubre and a first-round pick has long been my favorite realistic Jordan package. Oubre is up for an extension after this season. Washington will have trouble paying Oubre, Bradley Beal, John Wall and Otto Porter."
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One trade scenario Lowe mentions is a deal that includes Wizards rising star Kelly Oubre Jr., along with Jason Smith, Marcin Gortat, and a first-round draft pick that would send the All-Star center to the Wizards. That’s a lot to give up for a player who has the power of becoming a free agent after the season.
Lowe also noted the Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks are other teams in the mix to land Jordan, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports. However, Jordan has yet to indicate whether he will pick up his player option for the 2018-19 NBA season, a glaring issue for the Wizards and the rest of the league.
The Wizards team payroll may not be financially fit for a high-paid NBA star like Jordan. The Wizards have the fifth highest team salary in the NBA at $125,229,329 million and well over the 2017-18 salary cap of $99,093,000, per Basketball-Reference.com.
| Salary | Salary | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Team | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 |
| 1 | Golden State Warriors | $137,494,845 | $128,341,465 | $85,953,438 |
| 2 | Cleveland Cavaliers | $137,082,833 | $122,521,377 | $80,319,306 |
| 3 | Oklahoma City Thunder | $134,294,056 | $137,538,745 | $88,281,978 |
| 4 | Miami Heat | $128,232,424 | $147,360,943 | $134,274,753 |
| 5 | Washington Wizards | $125,229,329 | $124,797,665 | $107,593,646 |
Not to mention, the Wizards are over the NBA luxury tax, which is a mechanism that helps control team spending and designed for high spending teams. The Wizards possible trade partner Clippers are under the luxury tax, Lowe reports.
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Jordan, 29, is in his ninth NBA season and averages a double-double of 11.5 points and 14.9 rebounds. Most noteworthy, Jordan is a three-time All-Star and a two-time All-defensive first team, which instantly makes the Washington Wizards contenders.