Behind Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler was perhaps the most important piece to last year's title run for the Dallas Mavericks. Chandler set devastating screens and was the main force on the rebounding glass, and his defense helped clog up the paint for the Mavs. Dallas's main priority this offseason appeared to be toward resigning Chandler to make another run at a championship while all the players on the Mavs were still veterans.
Chandler returning to Dallas might not be as much a certainty as originally thought though. Chris Broussard and Marc Stein report.
In a surprise development on the first day that NBA teams and agents could start talking about new contracts, Tyson Chandler came away convinced that his time with the Dallas Mavericks is coming to an end.
"I really think I'm going to be on a new team come training camp," Chandler told ESPN.com in a telephone interview Wednesday night. "I'm really taking a hard look at all of my options, trying to see what best suits me."
Obviously, this might be posturing for Chandler to get a bigger deal from Dallas so he can be assured of finishing the rest of his prime years with Dallas and Nowitzki. It's not like Mark Cuban isn't reticent to spending for his players.
One of the teams that's pursuing Chandler the most is the Golden State Warriors (along with the New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors). The Warriors definitely have size issues that give them huge issues, and it makes sense why they'd want a rebounder like Chandler.
To discuss Chandler and the Mavs, head to Mavs Moneyball. To discuss the idea of Chandler and the Warriors, go to Golden State of Mind.