The Tyson Chandler Derby has been much more muted than the Amare-geddon (credit B-a-B), but the results might be as important. Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports that Oklahoma City has landed Chandler for (apparently) Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith, whose contracts happen to expiring this summer. (Just a coincidence, I'm sure.)Chandler can be considered a defensive version of Stoudemire, with little offensive impact beyond his beautiful and famous alley-oop connection with Chris Paul. If Amare could turn a team without scorers into a good offense, Chandler can potentially make a bad defense (OKC qualifies) respectable.
Stein reports that the exact contours of the deal haven't been leaked. The deal could work with any combination of Smith, Wilcox, Robert Swift and Desmond Mason; Swift would have to give consent as a player on a one-year deal, and Mason's out for the season.
On first blush, you'd expect OKC to be forced to give up one of their two late-first round picks considering how much more valuable Chandler is than the return package. However, since it is a complete cash-cutting deal for N.O., and since N.O. sold its late-first in 2008, the Thunder might be able to hold on to those assets for use in another potential deal (such as an expiring contract and a pick for Sacramento's John Salmons).
The Hornets were a Game 7 against the defending champs away from the Western Conference Finals last season. Now, the team has sold its best defender, and its third best player overall to get under the tax line in 2009-10. That Morris Peterson contract is the real problem, with James Posey and Peja Stojakovic singing back-up. Sad day for N.O. fans.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
what did the hornets get sick of winning or something?
Ok so the team just got good enough to bring up attendence enough to not lose the team to another city because of the contract they signed and now they are trading away pieces, FOR NOTHING, for moeny?????!!!!! I mean come on. When they signed Posey the owener was saying it feels like a final piece to a championship team and now they blow it up....
MAURO 2DC64C23 HOW CAN YOU DISMENTLE THE CRECENT CITY CONNECTION AND WHY
Someone hates the Hornets!
LA has Kobe and Gasol;
Boston has Pierce,KG and Allen;
San Antonio has Duncan, Manu and Parker;
Phoenix has Nash and Amare (and Shaq);
Miami used to Shaq and Wade;
The point is that you don't win with
1 player, guarantee.