When the New York Knicks acquired center DeAndre Jordan in a deal that sent fellow big man Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks back in January, Jordan was seen as mere salary fodder, and many felt the Knicks would buy him out.
Apparently, New York tried to do that.
According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News, head coach David Fizdale and the Knicks offered Jordan a buyout, but he actually wanted to stay in the Big Apple.
David Fizdale reveals on ESPN radio that the Knicks offered to buyout DeAndre Jordan but he wanted to stay with the Knicks.
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) April 12, 2019
Jordan ended up playing in 19 games for the Knicks, averaging 10.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 blocks over 25.9 minutes per game while shooting 63.4 percent from the floor and 77.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Most importantly, the veteran took rookie big man Mitchell Robinson under his wing and mentored him, and, as a result, Robinson flourished since the time that Jordan arrived in New York.
On the season overall, Jordan appeared in 69 contests and registered 11.0 points, 13.1 boards, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks across 29.7 minutes a night while making 64.1 percent of his field-goal attempts and 70.5 percent of his foul shots.
The 30-year-old, who signed a one-year deal with the Mavs last offseason, is set to become a free agent this summer.
Jordan played his collegiate basketball at Texas A&M University and was originally selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round (35th pick overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft.
He spent the first 10 years of his career with the Clippers, leading the league in rebounding twice and making the All-Star team in 2017.
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