clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Stein: Nets ‘exploring feasibility’ of signing DeAndre Jordan to lure Kevin Durant

New York Knicks v Detroit Pistons Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Marc Stein reported Monday that the Nets are looking into signing Knick free DeAndre Jordan as part of their plan to recruit Kevin Durant. Stein broke the story in a series of tweets...

One knowledgeable source told NetsDaily that the two are “very close.”

Jordan, who turns 31 next month, averaged a double-double last season, playing 69 games for the Mavericks and Knicks. He averaged 11.0 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks despite losing minutes at the end of season to promising Nets rookie Mitchell Robinson.

The 6’11” Texas A&M product has been a three-time All-NBA center, a one-time All-Star and two-time NBA rebounding leader. He also won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in the 2016 Olympics. His teammates included both Durant, Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler.

Stein did not describe what “exploring the feasibility” entails, but at Monday’s press conference to introduce the Nets draft picks, Sean Marks said Brooklyn intends to add “size” during the off-season.

Marks was asked if the Nets will prioritize signing a “big strong guy” following their problems with Philly’s bigs during the playoffs. “I think adding size is certainly something we’ll look at as the summer transpires, but you never know what happens in the future,” Marks responded.

The Nets have a back-up center of their own who’s a free agent, Ed Davis. Davis has expressed a desire to return but noted that money will be his top consideration. Davis, 30, earned $4.4 million last season. The Nets, who hold Davis’ Non-Bird rights, can give him a two-year contract worth $11 million without cutting into cap space. The team is also expected to have a so-called “room exception” which would allow them to pay a play $4.8 million next season.