Pros and Cons of Rumored Tyson Chandler for DeAndre Jordan Trade
Tyson Chandler made a glorious return to the Dallas Mavericks this season. But regardless of his stellar two-way play, he could be used as trade bait for the Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan once free agency commences.
Chandler's combination of pick-and-roll prowess and rim protection is hard to come by in the league, but Dallas is eyeing a younger version of the veteran big man.
Jordan, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, could leave the Clippers. If he decides to jump ship, Dallas is at the top of his list of preferred destinations, per ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon.
The Mavericks could theoretically renounce the $20 million cap hold of Chandler, also an unrestricted free agent, and sign Jordan outright. But hooking up with the Los Angeles Clippers on a sign-and-trade might be in the best interest of all parties.
Why It Makes Sense
Dallas could have over $30 million in cap space this summer. However, Chandler's giant cap hold has the team momentarily hamstrung. The Mavs won't have sufficient room for a max deal unless they re-sign Chandler at a sizable discount, sign-and-trade him or renounce the hold and cut the ties.
That means team owner Mark Cuban and the rest of the front office will have to address the center position before turning focus to alternative needs.
The deal that is being thrown out there is a straight up sign-and-trade with Chandler and Raymond Felton going to the Clippers, and Jordan landing in Dallas, per MacMahon.
The Clippers don't really have a need for Felton and his expiring $4.5 million deal, but they'd have no choice but to bite the bullet.
The Clips will be essentially capped out regardless of whether Jordan, 26, stays or goes. They'll have some room if he comes off the books, but not nearly enough to find a suitable replacement. With such a major void in the middle, L.A. would have no chance to contend for a title.
Chandler is 32, and his next big contract could look ugly toward its end. But he isn't that big of a short-term downgrade from Jordan, even though he lacks the upside. Chandler's athleticism should decline rapidly in the next couple of years, while Jordan should continue to get better. But if taking on Felton's deal means the Clippers can stay relevant in the Western Conference, at least for another year or two, they'll agree to Dallas' terms.
Chandler is a savvy veteran and should have no trouble meshing with the Clippers. He is also a better free-throw shooter than Jordan, and he might be an even cleaner fit if he stays healthy.
From Dallas' perspective, it's all a no-brainer. Jordan might not possess the leadership qualities or the defensive smarts of Chandler, but the Mavericks need to get younger.
Dirk Nowitzki is nearing the end of his illustrious career, and initiating a competitive rebuilding process around Chandler Parsons and Jordan isn't a shabby proposition. Both guys are entering their prime, and the Mavs will have an opportunity to add another superstar when the cap jumps in 2016-17.
Jordan has improved leaps and bounds defensively, and he is a more explosive and dangerous pick-and-roll threat than Chandler at this point of his career. Jordan also led the league in rebounding this season, gobbling up 15 per game.
With all of the formalities aside, the Mavs owe it to Chandler to put him in a good situation. They cut him loose following the 2011 championship run, after which he earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2012 with the New York Knicks. Doing so again just one season after reacquiring him wouldn't be in good taste.
Chandler has handled himself as a professional and has been a positive influence as a Maverick. If the Mavs are reluctant to pay him the big bucks, they should at least try to help him land in a good situation—even if that means lending a hand to another powerhouse team in the West.
Potential Cons
From the Mavs' perspective, this move wouldn't have many negative implications.
Jordan will obviously demand a max deal, which will make it a little tougher for Dallas to add more talent this summer. Chandler could perhaps be had at a discount, which would allow the team to reload with more immediate talent.
Al-Farouq Aminu has been a revelation this season, and everyone in the organization is speaking highly of him. If Dallas hands out a max deal to Jordan, it would make it significantly more difficult to retain the services of the young combo forward while also addressing voids in the backcourt.
If Chandler came back for somewhere around $12 million per year, Dallas could still hand out an eight-figure deal to Monta Ellis, who could opt out of the last year of his contract, or another shooting guard. Even after those moves, Dallas should maintain sufficient flexibility to take care of Aminu.
Jordan's free-throw shooting is also a major concern. Teams constantly fouled him in the playoffs, which forced Clippers head coach Doc Rivers to take him out of games in key moments.
The Clips struggled mightily on the glass on both ends without their best rebounder, surrendering extra possessions and missing out on crucial second-chance opportunities.
It's a painful flaw to Jordan's game that he has yet to iron out. If opponents consistently put him on the line, the team's offense can't establish any rhythm, which can cause frustration and friction among teammates.
Jordan averaged a career-high 5.3 free-throw attempts per game this season, connecting on just 39.7 percent. Teams abused that even more in the playoffs, as he was at the line 11.2 times per game.
Jordan might opt for a one-year contract this summer in order to re-sign for a significantly bigger long-term deal when the cap jumps. The Mavericks would obviously love to lock him up at the max in the current market, thus ensuring more future flexibility.
He might never become a great free-throw shooter, but Jordan is still an excellent young anchor to build around. He practically never gets hurt, and Dallas should definitely do everything in its power to bring him in.
You can follow me on Twitter: @VytisLasaitis
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