I think he'll end up in Dallas. Dallas will not sacrifice their prospect of winning another championship this season just to take a gamble on the 2012 free agency. That would be dumb. Besides, I think Chandler's comments are just posturing anyway. But, it occurs to me, if Dallas had signed Chandler to that extension he wanted before the last CBA expired, he would have been eligible for the amnesty clause in the new CBA. So, they could have had Chandler this season and had the option to open cap space for a big 2012 FA next offseason (and only lost Chandler in the event that this FA actually agreed to sign) if only they extended him. They missed their chance to have their cake and eat it too.
Chandler is the J-Lo of the NBA. A year or so ago he was considered damaged goods and his career was on life support. Now J-Lo is making $25M a year and raking in the endorsements. Given the scarcity of quality 5's in the NBA (combined with the hoopla of being a key piece in a championship run), I guess it's Chandler's turn now. My, oh my, can a lot change in one year.
Geez, the Mavs have not even had a day to contact Chandlers agent and he's getting all dramatic about not being contacted yet. The Mavs will try to re-sign him, but they have a few moves they need to make beforehand obviously. They have some tough decisions to make. As for the Rockets, anyone who thinks "Morey wants a center but doesn't want to pay for one" needs to realize the entire situation you are dealing with. Signing Chandler to a near Max contract (like the one he is asking for) could severly cripple a franchise for years and years. Did you like it the years when T-Mac and Yao were injured making max money??? ... was that fun? At least those two players could carry a franchise "if and when" they got healthy. Chandler cannot, but he is just as injury proned as those other two. At the max, you are making Tyson Chandler your franchise player and building role players around him.
Your right. Of course his first choice is to stay with the Mavs, but the price he is demanding is through the roof. Much more than the Mavs can afford to pay. Plus, Cuban is most likely working the phones on other deals first, priority #1 being Dwight Howard, then what to do about Amnesty, etc. Chandler just needs to have to patience, and hold onto a backup offer with a team like the Rockets if one falls through with the Mavs.
But who's going to pay Chandler max or near max money? He's not a franchise player, his absolute best role is the one he played in Dallas last year: to be a defensive anchor for a team that already has great offensive players and a great passing PG (which is necessary to make him useful on offense). So, is there any team out there that has those other pieces, needs a defensive anchor and is ready to pay max money, knowing that he's injury prone and really only has had about 3 good seasons in his whole NBA career? Sounds like a risky way to invest your money, unless you're in a position where he can put you over the top immediately, but again, I don't see a team that fits the description (lots of cap space and constructed in a way that Chandler can put them over the top).
Chandler was key to the Mavs' chamionship run because he was the missing piece -- a defender and rebounder that they lacked. However, that does not make Chandler a star who deserves close to max money. He is delusional if he thinks anyone would give him that type of contract on the market.
Is he really? I think there may be some delusional franchises that are happy to overpay him. But I still think he returns to the Mavs.
I don't quite get why the Nets would want to overpay for Chandler when they already have a decent center in Lopez. Not great, but decent.
daldridgetnt David Aldridge But I'm pretty sure Cuban is just keeping Haywood because luxury tax is no object for him and it's always great to have a solid 7 foot backup C. Chandler will remain a Mav.
Is Dallas still owned by Mark Cuban? Is there an amnesty cut that Cuban could use on a certain Brendan Haywood to clear space? Yes, I think Cuban amnesties Haywood and then gives Chandler a blank check. Best guess scenario: Dolan and Cuban have a bidding war, Knicks win and can't sign Paul or Williams until 2030 when Chandler's massive contract expires, we trade for Paul then Howard. Billups retires, and the Knicks put an Iman Shumpert as their PG. Shumpert has a mental breakdown after Melo berates him for not giving him the ball, a fight starts in the locker room, Amar'e's legs are broken into bits, the Knicks miss the playoffs and get the #2 pick in the 2012 draft, we draft a superstar and dominate the NBA until 2025.
The key here is he is a role player. And role players dont get max contracts from competent GM's. He would have to half his asking price for to want Morey to go after him. And, then everyone else would also.
