New York Knicks center DeAndre Jordan will not play Sunday night against the San Antonio Spurs, according to MSG reporter Rebecca Haarlow.
Deandre Jordan OUT tonight with sprained left ankle sustained in practice yesterday. Coach Fizdale said initially it looked worse than it actually is after being evaluated. He’s day to day, but the hope is he won’t miss much time. @MSGNetworks
— Rebecca Haarlow (@RebeccaHaarlow) February 24, 2019
Jordan, who was acquired as part of the trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks, has appeared in eight games for the Knicks, posting 11.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.
The 30-year-old initially signed with the Mavs as a free agent last July but was moved in the deal for Porzingis as part of New York's plan to acquire expiring contracts and free up two max spaces for this summer.
However, Brian Windhorst of ESPN mentioned that the Knicks may intend to hold onto Jordan as a means of enticing the likes of Kevin Durant.
This seems rather unlikely given the kind of salary that Jordan is likely to command at season's end, especially if he is seeking a long-term deal.
Jordan, a two-time rebounding champion, has seen a decline in his defensive prowess in recent years.
Last season, he posted a 109.5 defensive rating, his worst such number since his rookie season back in 2008-09 with the L.A. Clippers. In his eight games with the Knicks, that rating has dropped to 1110.0 with a -14.9 net rating.
Still, head coach David Fizdale has not shown too much urgency in getting additional minutes to Noah Vonleh, instead, pairing Jordan with Luke Kornet in the frontcourt.
However, with the timetable of Jordan's absence still unclear, the door is open for Vonleh to receive more minutes.
And with their starting center out for the foreseeable future, the Knicks stand a greater chance at losing more games.
Hoo-rah, you “Knicks tank” hopefuls.
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