Chandlers post defense is LEGIT, just ask Dwight Howard :grin: good rebounder and can block shots, exactly wat we need
The way I see it he will either sign with the hornets or he can jump on the Championship train in Chicago
I think you're over-exaggerating the direness of the situation. 1) Chandler's stock is at the lowest point right now. He was injured all season long, and he was used as a 3rd-string C in the playoffs. If he can get somebody to cough up 7.5 mill a year when he's at the lowest point of his career, why can't he get these guys to pay the same amount later, after he's had a completely healthy season? He's not 32+ years old like Brand, IIRC Chandler is still a pretty young player at around 28 or so. 2)The lockout makes all the more sense to get more $$$ now. Everyone has no idea how long that lockout will last. If he sticks to his contract, he will have 10.5 million to weather out the lockout. OTH, if he signs a contract for 7.5 mill, that's 2.5 mill less in his pocket. Moreover, that 7.5 million is a best-case scenario for him. Honestly I don't see anyone giving that much, maybe the full mid-level if he's lucky. If he ends up overvaluing his own stock and has to settle for say, 3M for 3 years, then he'll end up with just 3M to survive the lockout period. 3) The new CBA will probably benefit owners even more, however its not like everyone whose contract ends after the lockout will be forced to sign for the minimum. We don't know how the new CBA will turnout. I think its the height of foolishness to forego subtantially higher money now just because you're afraid of what will happen in the future. By 2011, Chandler is someone who's relatively young, healthy (or as the article claimed), a good defender, and is 7 ft tall. I fail to see why he can't get a contract similar to the one he will sign now.
I guess we have different opinions on Chandler. From my standpoint, he's had two pretty good years in the NBA, both because of CP3. Other than that, he hasn't done much of anything. He is a significant liability on offense. His last two seasons have been sorry, some of it due to injury. Signing long-term for less per year could cost him ~$5 million for this season only, but when he becomes unrestricted next year, his prospects for a long-term deal will be bleaker than now with or without a lockout. I didn't imply at all he would sign for the minimum, so what does that have to do with anything? I don't expect him to do much next season to enhance his value. His best years are behind him. Fans (perhaps yourself) mostly remember him playing with CP3, which may cause one to think more of Chandler than what is there. Basically he is Chuck Hayes (plus 7 inches & minus a few pounds), except he contests a few more shots. On the offensive end, Chandler is a dead weight on a team. I've never thought much of the guy throughout his career. Like I said, if Chandler's handlers think he could get $25+ million guaranteed if he opted out, he should take it IMO. If I were a team, I wouldn't give such a low-skilled, injury-prone player a large contract. But there is a lot of money out there now. Won't be that way next summer, new CBA or not.
Cleveland Everything will be on hold until Lebron makes a decision. Without Lebron, the Cavs should rebuild and would have no need for Chandler. Orlando Howard & Gortat. Gortat is already on the bench making MLE money. No need for Chandler. Atlanta Horford, Zaza, Jason Collins, Randolph Morris Plenty of journeyman centers. No need for Chandler. Boston Perkins, G Davis, R Wallace, KG No need for Chandler. Miami Probably in a similar situation to Cleveland with things on hold until the D Wade issue is resolved. Milwaukee They already have Bogut, Brezec and Gadzuric Charlotte Chicago Hoping to acquire at least one Top level player Chandler isn't one of them. If the best the Bulls can do this Summer is sign Chandler, then it would be considered a major failure. Toronto Probably in a similar situation to Cleveland and Miami with things on hold until the Bosh issue is resolved. Indiana No idea what they are going to do. New York Already have David Lee looking for a long term contract. Losing Lee to sign Chandler doesn't look like a net gain for the Knicks Detroit No idea what they are going to do. Philadelphia Already have Dalembert with a similar skill set and contract to Chandler. Washington Dumped most of the veterans and are in a Youth movement. Blatche and McGee should play rather than sit on the bench watching Chandler. Nets Already have Lopez and might draft another Big in Favors or Cousins. They will have Cap Space, but Chandler is likely not near the top of the list. <hr> Lakers Have Bynum and Gasol. Dallas Have Haywood and likely to move Dampier. Looking to add talent, but have doubts about Chandler being a high target. Phoenix Probably in a similar situation to Cleveland, Miami and Toronto with things on hold until the Amar'e issue is resolved. Denver Already moved Camby and hard to imagine them seeking a similar player in Chandler. Birdman has a similar game on a modest contract. Utah Already have a heavy payroll and enough journeyman centers. Portland Oden, Camby and Przybilla. San Antonio Could use some interior help, but there are rumors about Splitter joining the Spurs. Oklahoma City Tried in the past to acquire Chandler. No idea what their current plan is. Houston Might take on a MLE deal, but nothing more costly than that. Memphis Gasol and Thabeet. No need for Chandler. New Orleans Have Okafor. New ownership. Clippers Have Kaman and Jordan. Moved Camby to Portland. Doubtful that they would rush to replace him with an expensive journeyman. Golden State Have Biedrins and Turiaf. Likely to have new ownership and new leadership in the front office. No idea what they are going to do. Sacramento Probably could use some help in the front court, so maybe a possibility Minnesota They have Ryan Hollins and Jefferson who can cover some minutes at the 5. Have many picks in the upcoming draft and the rights to a promising European center in Pekovic. Timberwolves GM had mentioned that Darko might resign with them. <hr> The high profile Free Agents that might change teams this Summer are mainly PF types (Boozer, Amar'e, Bosh) and Wings (LeBron, Wade, J Johnson). The centers that could be elsewhere such as Dampier, Shaq, Z, Darko, J O'Neal and Chandler probably will have to wait before any significant offers are made to them. There might be a decent market for Chandler at the MLE salary level, but probably a much more limited one at a salary higher than that.
That's my point. Why can he sign ~5M now when his stock is in the cellar, but he can't get that money a year later after he's proven he can stay healthy? I guess we have different opinions on Chandler's value. I think he'll be hard pressed to find a person willing to offer him the full mid-level for more than 3 years, that amounts to just 15M guaranteed if he opted out vs. 10M now, and there's a possibility he gets the Bonzi treatment and end ups with garbage offers. OTOH, if he lets his current contract expire he'll have 10 mill guaranteed this year, and he can sign a similar contract (5 Mill 3 years) after he's proved he's healthy. So 10M now vs 15M in 3 years with the lockout looming? My money's on him not opting out, at least if he has some good financial advisers. The upside on gambling that you're gonna make more money in the long run isn't enough to justify leaving 10M on the table now. What if nobody gives him more than 3M a year? He'll be facing a lockout, and he'll only have 70% of his original earnings.
Birdman is in the 3 - 4 million salary range. That might be the salary range that Chandler will see on his next contract. There are a fair number of Centers and PF/Center types expected to be drafted in the First Round: Favors Cousins Udoh Aldrich Orton Alabi Seraphin If Pekovic and Splitter come over, then the pool of available centers will be large enough to keep a lid on the salary that lower tier Free Agents like Chandler could expect.
He'd be pretty stuppid to give up $12 mil after two subpar seasons. If he's healthy he can prove himself next year and win another big contract.
It's on Chandler's advisers to figure out how much he would get in the open market this summer. If it's less than $20MM, he should not opt out. You and I apparently value him about the same. But over the last 5-6 years, I've seen mediocre big men sign for stupid money (from my standpoint). Based on that, I think he could possibly get a lot more than just the MLE at 3 years.
