REPORT: 76ers Favorite to Sign DeAndre Jordan After Lakers Release

The Los Angeles Lakers are waiving DeAndre Jordan for D.J. Augustin, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

This move sends the former All-NBA center on the hunt to join his third team in two seasons. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as a favorite to pick up Jordan.

Ever since the 76ers traded backup center Andre Drummond to the Brooklyn Nets in the James Harden trade, the 76ers have been looking for a suitable player to fill the backup center role that Drummond left vacant. Most recently, they signed Willie Cauley-Stein to a 10-day contract last Wednesday. Cauley-Stein has appeared in only one game since signing on the dotted line.

The 76ers have an open roster spot to sign Jordan outright but may opt to wait out the deal before signing Jordan; per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, doing so would save Philly money.

In late December, Jordan started in 19 games this season before falling out of the Lakers’ rotation. He’s averaging 4.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 67.4 percent from the field this year.