Tyson Chandler Rumors: Mark Cuban Is Too Smart to Let Defensive Presence Go

Tyson Chandler is one of the hottest free agents this offseason after proving to be a defensive force throughout the playoffs for the world champion Dallas Mavericks last season.

But no matter how many rumors or how much speculation, let's be honest: owner Mark Cuban is too smart to let Chandler go.

You can say what you want about Cuban, one of the most controversial owners in the league, but one thing you can't say is that he doesn't know how to build a championship team.

Cuban has proved throughout the years that he knows what he's doing. Last season marked the ninth straight season the Mavericks had won 50 games or more, a remarkable streak that says as much about Cuban as it does the players on that squad.

And it was Cuban who landed Chandler last offseason, only to see him go on to become the reason the Mavericks powered through the playoffs (of course, Dirk Nowitzki had an amazing run, but there's no way the Mavericks get that far without defense).

Will the Mavericks overpay for the 28-year-old injury-prone center?

Absolutely.

But just because you overpay doesn't mean it was a bad move. This is the NBA, after all, where top players never come cheap.

Cuban knows as well as anybody that Chandler is an indispensable part of the Mavericks. He averaged 10.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks last season, but anyone who watched him play knows his play was far better than his stats may suggest.

It will be fun to see the Tyson Chandler Circus this offseason, but in the end it will all be for naught.

Chandler will get a multi-year deal from the Mavericks.