Sixers: Why the DeAndre Jordan move has failed

Over a month ago, I wrote my first professional article (yay me) on the reasons why Deandre Jordan could be a good fit for the Sixers after his signing in March.

Here we are, some weeks later, and I’m writing this piece, “Trust the Process” bucket hat in hand, to admit I was completely wrong.

The DeAndre Jordan signing has failed the Sixers

Looking back on it, Jordan showed glimpses, at least initially, of the potential he had as a backup big man for Joel Embiid. He had some games where he played well, specifically the March 18 game against Dallas (he had eight points and seven rebounds in 13 minutes) and the April 2 game against Charlotte (he had eight points and five rebounds in 10 minutes).

Despite the few good games, Jordan struggled to be the go-to backup. He was too slow defensively, and teams tended to target the paint every time he was on the floor. He just couldn’t keep up, and his rebounding wasn’t good enough to mask that fact.

No one expected him to be Andre Drummond. Drummond could have started on several teams this year but was trying to prove himself to get back to where he once was. Jordan, however, is past his prime. He simply was not the threat that the Sixers needed him to be behind Embiid.

His biggest flaw: he wasn’t Paul Reed.

Paul Reed, a former G League MVP, began really showing his worth down the stretch of the regular season. Reed, the second-year PF/C from DePaul University, had ups and downs for most of the year, splitting his time between the Blue Coats and the Sixers. Down the stretch of the season, especially the last three games against Toronto, Indiana, and Detroit, it was clear Reed was the best option for the Sixers as a backup center.

Head Coach Doc Rivers, however, downplayed Reed’s play, saying, “We believe against a big five, DJ is good for us; against smalls, Paul. Could we play Paul with a big five? Yeah, you could. You may get into foul trouble early in a playoff game which could swing a game. I’ve been around a long time, trust that.”

His actions, though, speak for themselves. DeAndre Jordan has yet to log a playoff minute in 2022 (though he did check in for less than a second in game three), but Reed has averaged about nine in all five games so far. Granted, the Raptors don’t have a big center (their tallest players are listed at 6-foot-9), but the fact that Jordan hasn’t seen the floor even a second against an athletic Raptors team that would expose his inability to move speaks volumes.

This team misses Andre Drummond, but Deandre Jordan, in hindsight, should not have been the answer. Willie Cauley-Stein, though he might not have been the answer either, should have gotten a better chance to prove himself in game situations. Even Charles Bassey, who hasn’t played NBA minutes since February 15, should have been given more of a chance rather than being optioned to the Blue Coats. Bassey stood out in the G League, earning a spot on the G League All -Defensive Team, All-Rookie Team, and the G League Second Team. Rivers believed in his guy, though, and that has cost him a lot this season.

Depth has been a huge issue the entire year, especially since the Harden trade. Jordan is the clearest example. He has not been able to get to the level the Sixers needed this season. If they want to make a run, he needs to step up defensively in ways he might not be able to do. It appears to be a long shot for the former three-time All NBA center.

With that said, I would love to be wrong again…