NBA salary cap exercise: What player would every team amnesty?

Brooklyn Nets – DeAndre Jordan

It may be unlikely but if given the reigns of this Nets team this was probably the easiest call to make. DeAndre Jordan may have been the deciding factor for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to sign with the Nets. I am making this move with the hope that I can get them on board with the right amount of maneuvering.

DeAndre Jordan is still a fine player, averaging 8.3 points and 10.0 rebounds. The issue is the younger player is possibly already better. Jarrett Allen is averaging 10.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Allen has also proven slightly more durable so far.

The fact that it is even comparable makes the entirety of the point, however. Jordan is 32 and guaranteed $30 million over the next three seasons. Allen is a decade younger and only on the hook for $3.9 million next year. This gives the team extra wiggle room in terms of the amount of salary they can bring back in a trade for a superstar without making the luxury tax a death sentence. It also opens up the door for Allen to develop into the kind of player he has shown flashes of being.

Bringing in Jordan made sense to satiate and lock down the two stars that change the direction of your franchise. But if they can get on board with moving on from him to help facilitate a trade for a third star and to create additional opportunities for Allen to grow into a fourth this makes too much sense. And if the NBA is going to be in a bubble whatever Jordan’s next team is will not be too far from them anyway.