​The New Orleans Pelicans have reportedly re-signed veteran center DeAndre Jordan to a two-year, guaranteed contract valued at $7.9 million. Jordan returns for a second stint with the team after spending the 2023-24 season in New Orleans, and his new deal keeps him in the fold for two more seasons. The announcement of the deal drew immediate commentary from basketball analysts who questioned the financial structure and its potential impact on the Pelicans’ price tag this season and beyond.
One NBA analyst, Austin Roberts, took to social media to criticize the arrangement, suggesting the team may have misunderstood a nuance of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Roberts claimed that the NBA prorated veteran minimum contracts only applies to one-year deals, meaning the Pelicans would be responsible for the full $7.9 million over two years rather than receiving a potential offset. “I was informed by someone in the league that the NBA prorate of vet min deals only applies to 1-year deals. So the Pelicans will be paying the entire $7.9M,” he wrote, adding that the misinterpretation was an error that could have been avoided with a simpler approach. He attributed the confusion to Joe Dumars, suggesting the team could have structured the arrangement as two separate one-year contracts that would have leveraged the league’s pay structure more efficiently.
Roberts continued, stressing the financial implications of the error: “All they had to do was sign DJ to two separate 1-year deals. This is an entirely unforced error. I’m pretty baffled how this happened.” He underscored that the misstep cost the Pelicans an extra roughly $3 million that the league would have covered had the player been signed to a single-year deal, a benefit that disappeared when the two-year commitment was chosen instead. In practical terms, Jordan’s two-year contract places the entire $7.9 million on the Pelicans’ payroll for both seasons.
Jordan, who is entering his 19th NBA season, has seen limited playing time recently. In the previous year, he appeared in 12 games, starting seven, and averaged 4.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest. Despite the modest on-court numbers, his leadership and veteran presence were highly valued within the Pelicans’ locker room. Team officials highlighted his role as a stabilizing voice and mentor to emerging players, including Derik Queen, the Pelicans’ 2025 lottery pick. The team has emphasized that maintaining a veteran presence in the frontcourt would help support the development of its younger talents and give additional depth behind the team’s core of Zion Williamson, Yves Missi, and Queen.
From a strategic standpoint, the Pelicans’ decision to re-sign Jordan aligns with a broader aim to preserve depth and experience in the frontcourt while continuing to cultivate their young nucleus. The organization had recently chosen not to exercise Kevon Looney’s $8 million team option, creating an opening for another veteran big man to join the rotation. In that context, Jordan’s arrival is intended to complement the lineup, offering size, experience, and championship pedigree—having previously won an NBA title with the Denver Nuggets in 2023—as the team looks to maximize its win-now potential while supporting its long-term development plan.
Looking ahead, Jordan’s two-year deal ensures he will reach two decades in the league, a milestone he has long stated he hopes to achieve. The contract secures his future in New Orleans for the next two seasons, even as the Pelicans continue to evaluate their frontcourt configuration and roster construction around their rising stars. As the NBA season approaches, observers will be watching how Jordan’s on-court contributions and locker-room influence translate into on-court performance and overall team chemistry, particularly as New Orleans navigates the balance between veteran leadership and opportunities for its younger players to grow.
In the broader context, the Pelicans have built a roster that seeks to blend experienced leadership with a burgeoning core capable of sustainable success. Jordan’s presence adds a dimension of veteran know-how and championship resilience that may help guide a talented but still-developing group. Whether this two-year commitment will pay dividends depends on how the Pelicans leverage his experience, how he adapts to the team’s system, and how his role evolves alongside Queen, Missi, and Williamson. As the season unfolds, the deal will be evaluated not only for its immediate financial implications but also for its impact on the team’s long-term trajectory and the development of its younger players.