The instant free agency bonanza following the conclusion of the 2011 NBA lockout has unfortunately been lost in the League’s history.
Within days of the lockout ending, Mark Cuban inexplicably let Tyson Chandler walk to New York, David West left New Orleans to join the up-and-coming Indiana Pacers and the still-relevant Rip Hamilton fled Detroit to join its Central division rival Chicago Bulls, among others big moves.
After drafting sharpshooting Klay Thompson to add to an already dynamic young backcourt of Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis, the Golden State Warriors were looking to upgrade their frontcourt and pair in-his-prime All-Star power forward David Lee with a defensive stopper at center. The Dubs dug deep into their pockets and offered Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, then just 23 years old, a four-year, $43 million deal.
Many claimed Jordan, just three years into his career and coming off a season in which he averaged just 7.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 25.6 minutes per game, wasn’t worth that kind of cash. Plus-$10 million annual salaries were reserved for All-Star-caliber centers. Sure, DAJ had the physical makeup to become one of the most imposing rim protectors in the League, but would he ever learn how to stay out of foul trouble? Would he ever shoot above 45 percent from the foul line? Would he ever be in the conversation of best center in the League?
Fast forward to 2014, and Clippers head coach Doc Rivers is clamoring for Jordan to receive some attention for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Joakim Noah ultimately took home the honor, but Jordan did finish third only behind Noah and Roy Hibbert.
The 2013-14 season in Lob City was Blake Griffin’s true breakout campaign. The former Oklahoma Sooner emerged as a legit MVP candidate when Chris Paul was injured. In Blake’s shadow, Jordan came into his own as well.
He averaged 10.4 points per game on 67.6 percent shooting, led the League in rebounding at 13.6 per night and was third in blocks at 2.5 an outing in a career-high 35.0 minutes per game. The Clips were wise to match Golden State on that lucrative deal for Jordan just three years ago. Since he signed that big deal, Jordan hasn’t missed a game for L.A. And now, DAJ finds himself in a contract year this winter. What perfect timing, huh?
Still just 26, Jordan is on the cusp of emerging as an All-NBA center. There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it. The ’13-14 season was merely Jordan’s first NBA campaign playing more than 30 minutes per game and he wrecked havoc on all opposing frontcourts.
He still needs work on the finesse aspects of offense. Right now, that 67.6 percent field-goal percentage is largely just Jordan benefitting from the playmaking abilities of CP3 and Blake. His post game is limited, leaving Jordan’s offensive production to really just a finisher around the rim. If he can develop into a post-up threat, Jordan’s game, and his earning potential, will immediately blossom and skyrocket.
“Personally, I’m a fan of any player that improves and embraces his role, especially on the defensive end of the floor,” an Eastern Conference scout told SLAM. “I think DeAndre will continue to flourish under Doc Rivers and hopefully improve in small increments on the offensive end. I think the sky is the limit for a young man with so much talent and athleticism. His growth mentally under Doc has already been substantial. DeAndre is already a top-three defensive center and on his way to being a top-five NBA center if he continues to grow.”
Even if last season is the best we’ll see from DAJ, he’ll still be an elite center in the NBA for the next 5-7 years. The basketball Gods don’t bless too many 7-footers with that kind of an absurd athleticism and impeccable timing. And he’s got the capabilities right now to be the third member of a dynamic Big Three and the starting center of an NBA championship contender.
Can you imagine how good the Warriors would be now if they nabbed Jordan instead of trading for Andrew Bogut?
| #SLAMTop50 Players 2014 | ||||
| Rank | Player | Team | Position | Pos. Rank |
| 50 | Chandler Parsons | Mavs | SF | 6 |
| 49 | Deron Williams | Nets | PG | 15 |
| 48 | Monta Ellis | Mavs | SG | 9 |
| 47 | Eric Bledsoe | Suns | PG | 14 |
| 46 | Rudy Gay | Kings | SF | 5 |
| 45 | Joe Johnson | Nets | SG | 8 |
| 44 | Kenneth Faried | Nuggets | PF | 11 |
| 43 | DeAndre Jordan | Clippers | C | 9 |
Rankings are based on expected contribution in ’14-15—to players’ team, the NBA and the game.
Deandre is already a top 5 center .. to that ‘anonymous eastern scout’
Deandre Jordan is a bigger, more athletic version of Kenneth Faried. What’s funny is that Jordan is only 1 spot higher than Faried.
Debateable. Depends on what you need.
Dwight
Noah
Gasol
DeMarcus Cousins
Al Horford
Hibbert
Brook Lopez
Nikola Vucevic
Andre Drummond
Tyson Chandler
Al Jefferson
Marcin Gortat
Asik
All these guys have the ability and have in the past been better players than DAJ. So it’s hard to say certifiably he’s top 5. He certainly is playing on a team that makes him look a lot better than say, if he was on the Hornets like Al Jefferson.
add pekovic too
Drummond as well.
You probably looked at my unedited post. I added like 3-6 more haha.
Personally, I really think Robin Lopez isn’t far off from Jordan either.
Even though this is a bit bias because i don’t like Tyson Chandler. I think Deandre Jordan right now is better than Tyson ever was.
I don’t think one can really come down on it one way or the other. They were too closely comparable to make a decision. It’s impossible to really define one as being better than the other when they both do the same things equally as good and bad.
What is it that makes you think DAJ is better than Tyson when he’s healthy?
He’s so bad on D, and his offense is a black-hole. I just am not sure If I’d take him over any of the others I listed. I can see why some would like him though. He can score. He is like a poor man’s Al Jefferson to me.
I think DAJ’s athleticism separates him a bit. not that tyson wasn’t a great athlete, but DAJ is a freak and can step out on smaller players and guard them for a possession here and there without getting burned.
I don’t think Lopez is really there yet, he’s not much of a threat in any offensive situation, while at least Jordan needs to have a hand on him to prevent lobs, and he is good in the pick and roll.
.
defensively, he’s just so much more agile than Lopez, the pick and roll defensively is a big difference.
I love the sound of a DJ cram…sounds like an air cannon
i mean, he plays next to one of the best if not the best PF in the league and has 1 of the best if not the best PG in the league, i’m not that high on jordan. he has great jumping ability for his size but that’s it to me. i think faried is a better player.
I agree, he’s a notch below, but I don’t think it’s a huge notch. Jordan is better across the board. Although, you have to admire Robin nailing 80+% of his FT’s last season.
Lopez was only .5 PER off from Jordan and grabbed the same amount of offensive rebounds in 5 less mpg.
Not bad…
I agree his athleticism is above that of Tyson’s, but Tyson’s IQ is much higher. He’s a very smart defender and does a great job of talking to his teammates.
With all that said, I’d take DAJ over Tyson today. But prime Tyson vs last seasons DAJ… quite a conundrum.
Forgot about Horford honestly.. But does DJ’s durability put him over someone like Horford? I’d say yes. I’ll concede Dwight Cousins and Noah, Pau being a close call with his age..
Hmm Jefferson too.. maybe I jumped the gun on top 5 -_-
I’m sorry, but as I only see about three guys that can even dream of the same rebounding/blocking numbers in their lives, I don’t follow. Brook Lopez to me isn’t even a center with how small he plays.
He means Marc Gasol, not Pau.
Don’t be sorry. I am not upset at anyone who thinks DAJ is the 5th best center in the L, I just think it’s more than a lil debatable. Surprisingly rebounding and blocks, while being important aren’t the most important thing. You wouldn’t think Roy Hibbert is a better defender than DAJ by looking at his rebounding and blocks, but he is. Same with Howard, Noah, Gasol, and even Bogut, but they are all actually better players(with Bogut obviously add a **when healthy tag).
Andre Drummond is probably the 2nd best center after DAJ at grabbing boards and swatting shots, but he isn’t in the top 5 either. Although I do love their game.
Sure, that’s a good argument to make for DAJ. He was really good at staying on the court last season. That may be his most admirable trait.
There is still a good argument for DAJ as the 5th best, I just wanted to mention it wasn’t quite a closed case as perceived.
I do that all the time, don’t worry about it. Sparked some good conversation.
DJ is top 5 Centers easy. Just wait. He is on a contract year. Trying to prove he’s a max contract player. Trust me DJ is going to come back so Ultra Beast Mode! Just wait. Come mid-season #5 or higher will be a no brainer!
Too low. DJ is top 20 IMO. I’m pressed to think of many players, especially centers, who I’d take over DJ…
That’s a joke, right? DJ may not be that flash offensively, but on D, he’s leagues ahead (forgive the pun) of most of those guys, save Howard/Gasol/Hibbert. Even then, I got him above Hibs.
Ask yourself, how many of those guys could catch & finish like DJ does on those HIGH lobs from CP3 and Blake. Cousins and Howard maybe… also, remember this a projection for this year, & looking at DJ’s form on his shots you can see it’s way better than Howard’s shot, way better than Hibberts’ – so I can’t say that DJ CAN’T improve on his FT’s or FG’s (which led the L).
We’re talking about a center who L the L in TWO categories.
Top 20 is too high. Top 35
Ahahahahahahaha
Valanciunas > Asik and Gortat
Agree, not upset with fanboys of DAJ, but not top 5 imo.
Howard
Cousins
Gasol
Noah
Jefferson
Horford
Bogut*
B. Lopez
Drummond
Jordan
Hibbert
Gortat
Valanciunas
Asik
Dieng
…Maybe in order, maybe not….
* when healthy
Howard, Cousins, Noah.There. That’s not even saying DAJ is great, but the other guys have to give something. Loy Vaught probably could’ve gotten a max deal today, not to mention Tyrone Hill and Armon Gilliam. That’s not good.
AD will surpass DAJ in both categories thos season.
If Top 5 center means a guy who doesn’t give anything on offense, has gotten over 8 boards a game exactly twice and his only plus is being a good post defender/rim protector, there’s a problem.
Roy Hibbert better not show up on this list.
Think he was talking about pekovic ehen he was talking about having bad defense. Not deontre jordan
lakeshow was talking about pekovic… you know since that’s the post he replied to. It’s a system here, one that you did not follow.
Faried clearly has more offensive skill.
You should check the long list of names who played with Malone and Stockton to understand that playing with the #1 PG and #1 PF doesn’t make you a good centre.
Allrightythen
Easy? Dwight Howard, Demarcus Cousins, Brook Lopez, Andre Drummond, Tyson Chandler, Marc Gasol, Al Horford, Roy Hibbert, Al Jefferson, Joakim Noah, Jonas Valanciunas. He’s not top 5 and it definitely isn’t “easy”.
Jonas Valanciunas needs to be on this list.
meh… Can’t stay on the court. Mediocre defensively…
Roy Hibbert is one of only 4 centers that immediately makes your team a top defensive team. He should be on the list.
He’s a better rebounder than Gortat, Jefferson, Hibbert, Horford, Lopez, and Gasol.
He’s a better shot blocker than Vucevic, Jefferson, and Horford.
He’s a better scorer than Dwight, Noah, Gortat, Asik, Chandler, and Hibbert.
He’s more efficient than Asik, Gortat, Cousins, Jefferson, Vucevic, Hibbert, Horford, Lopez, Noah, and Gasol.
Better/more willing passer than Asik, Drummond, and Lopez.
Fouls less than Cousins, Drummond, Hibbert, Noah, and Dwight.
Is at least 2 years younger than all of them save Drummond, and plays less than all of them save Asik (this is mostly due to Casey’s bizarre rotations and unwillingness to play him late in games)
Point is, if you’re making an extended list of the NBA’s best centres, Jonas Valanciunas needs to be on it.
“He’s a better rebounder than Gortat, Jefferson, Hibbert, Horford, Lopez, and Gasol.”
UNDETERMINED **But Reggie Evans is better than all of them yet you won’t see him on anyones TOP’s lists….
“He’s a better shot blocker than Vucevic, Jefferson, and Horford.”
UNDETERMINED, and frankly unimportant.
“He’s a better scorer than Dwight, Noah, Gortat, Asik, Chandler, and Hibbert.”
UNDETERMINED
“He’s more efficient than Asik, Gortat, Cousins, Jefferson, Vucevic, Hibbert, Horford, Lopez, Noah, and Gasol.”
ASIK – EQUAL
GORTAT – EQUAL
COUSINS – YOU CAN’T COMPARE A 20+PPG SCORER WITH AN 10PPG SCORER
JEFFERSON – SEE ABOVE
VUCEVIC – TRUE
HIBBERT – TRUE
LOPEZ – SEE COUSINS
NOAH – TRUE
Better/more willing passer than Asik, Drummond, and Lopez.
TRUE
So why doesn’t he get more PT?
“Point is, if you’re making an extended list of the NBA’s best centres, Jonas Valanciunas needs to be on it.”
Maybe… He hasn’t proved anything in his time in the L yet. I agree his upside is high, and one day he may be a top 10 center, but I’m not upset with myself for leaving him out.