Heat Interest in Chandler?
This article can be found on MIASPORTSGUY.COM, The Miami Sports Blog
It’s been reported by ESPN’s Chad Ford that Tyson Chandler is strongly considering terminating his contract and leaving $12.6 million on the table to become a free agent on July 1.
Leaving that much guaranteed money is a bold move for a guy that has career averages of 8.1 points and 8.8 rebounds and a history of injuries. However, the thinking must be that with so many teams with cap space and vacancies at the center position, someone is going to pay the 27-year-old.
He has had some injury issues that past two seasons which presents some risk for a guy that should get a yearly contract in the $8-12 million range.
Should the Heat be a player in the potential Chandler market?
He definitely has something Miami lacks – even if they can land Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, or Carlos Boozer this summer – a center. Bosh, Stoudemire, and Boozer are not true centers.
Chandler is a legitimate seven footer and would give the Heat their first true starting center since Alonzo and Shaq.
Pairing any one of those guys with a guy like Chandler, a great help defender, would be beneficial to both Miami and the power forward the Heat hopefully lands.
None of those guys want to play center, a position that gets beat on constantly.
Chandler is a quality defender and would play well off the pick and roll with Wade. Think about how many Paul-to-Chandler alley-oops occurred in his New Orleans days. If he physically checks out, and is willing to sign for say 4 years, $35 million, I think its a very smart move.
