The Knicks will have plenty of choices to make once free agency officially begins this Sunday. Beyond the obvious superstar targets, the Knicks will also look into cheaper, cost-effective options. DeAndre Jordan, while not exactly cheap, could be one of them.
Acquired last season as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade, the veteran center played a valuable role in more ways than one in his short time with the team. A free agent this summer, there are a bunch of reasons why he could be a beneficial signing for the orange and blue.
He might help the Knicks land Kevin Durant
This could be one of the most important benefits of signing Jordan. His friendship with Durant has been well-documented over the years, and it certainly wouldn't hurt New York's chances of signing him. They've been Olympic teammates, frequent opponents in the West and friends off the court.
While Jordan wouldn't be the second star to pair with Durant (such as Kyrie Irving or Kawhi Leonard), Jordan would offer the Warriors' star a sense of familiarity with his new organization. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported in February that the Knicks were "making it look like they intend" on keeping Jordan with Durant in mind, though he cited salary issues as a potential roadblock in making it happen. The Knicks, however, aren't the only ones with this line of thinking. The Nets have at least explored the possibility of adding Jordan in efforts to lure Durant.
He's still pretty good
Jordan, 30, isn't quite what he used to be, but that doesn't mean he's no longer a useful player. Known for his rebounding skills, he finished last season with 13.1 total rebounds per game -- good for third-best in the NBA. That number was by far the best from New York's roster last season, with Enes Kanter (10.5) and Noah Vonleh (7.8) finishing second and third best, respectively.
Defensively, Jordan's 9.8 rebounds per game finished fourth in the league, ahead of names like Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Davis. His 11 PPG in '18-19 ranked 21st among qualified centers, leaving some to be desired on the other end of the floor, but the Knicks (or any team that signs him) don't need Jordan to be a top scorer. He's tenacious off the boards, and though his blocks per game have declined over the last two seasons, the Knicks have an answer for that -- Mitchell Robinson.
He can continue to mentor the young guys
Along with aiding the KD push, this might be the main reason the Knicks sign Jordan. As a respected shot-blocker and rim-protector, he was quick to take the 20-year-old Robinson under his wing. If signed, he'll instantly serve as one of the teams leading veterans, as David Fizdale said last season that Jordan's presence was "like having another coach on the bench."
Robinson himself said that Jordan was key in teaching him proper practice habits and patience. Additionally, Knicks management was encouraged that Jordan -- who would have had multiple playoff teams interested in him -- opted to stay in New York till the end of last season. When he offered reasons for staying with the team, Jordan said "any time you can help a younger player out that's what you're supposed to do."
However…
Re-signing Jordan is far from a certainty. Aside from the Knicks and Nets, the Lakers have some level of interest in Jordan, according to Brian Windhorst. The other question is a hugely important one -- can the team afford him?
Jordan will earn $27.47 million next season, which would limit the Knicks' ability to sign two stars on max deals. It seems unlikely that New York would commit that much money to a free agent not in the superstar tier. This seems especially true given the fact that the organization is expected to turn toward cheaper alternatives, such as Julius Randle and Bobby Portis, if it fails to land a marquee free agent.
Aside from the contractual difficulties, does Jordan want to play for the rebuilding Knicks? If he re-signs in New York, he'd likely be signing up for at least a year of rebuilding with a roster full of unproven, but talented players. The arrival of RJ Barrett and potential high-level role players certainly helps, but if he wants to, Jordan will be able to play for a team with an immediate chance of playoff contention or more.
Would Jordan accept reduced minutes if the majority of starts are given to Robinson? On another playoff hopeful squad, Jordan would be a candidate to start, if not an excellent bench option. If the Knicks want Robinson to gain as much time as possible, it may be hard to split time evenly.