Los Angeles Lakers are planning to part ways with center DeAndre Jordan in order to sign veteran point guard DJ Augustin, per Shams Charania of the Athletic.
The Lakers also plan to sign forward Wenyen Gabriel to a two-way contract, per Charania. With those moves, the Lakers are focusing on adding guard depth instead of a post player backup like Jordan.
The Los Angeles Lakers intend to waive DeAndre Jordan and sign free agent guard DJ Augustin, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Lakers are bringing in a veteran, accomplished shooting PG to back up Russell Westbrook.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 1, 2022
Jordan appeared in 32 games for the Lakers this season and played 12.8 minutes per contest. Augustin played for the Rockets this season, but he was waived earlier this month.
The veteran guard is a 38 percent shooter in his career, and he could help the purple and gold to make a final push for the playoffs in the remaining games.
The Lakers have won just three out of their past 10 games, and currently sit ninth overall in the Western Conference standings with a 27-33 record.
Likewise, Jordan will likely be signed elsewhere to provide some frontcourt fortification for a contending team. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Philadelphia 76ers are expected to pursue the veteran big.
Jordan was All-NBA first team with the LA Clippers in 2016 and a two-time All-NBA defensive first-team choice in 2015 and ’16.
ESPN story on the Philadelphia 76ers emerging as a frontrunner to land center DeAndre Jordan: https://t.co/asQHgJbNof
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 1, 2022
They are short-handed in the frontcourt position after the departure of Andre Drummond, who was packaged with Ben Simmons and Seth Curry in the James Harden trade. The Sixers are in search for more depth after giving up two players to get Harden.
Since Harden made his debut, the 76ers are 2-0 with Embiid and Harden playing off each other to combine for an impressive number of points in the offense.
