As intended big man targets for the Los Angeles Lakers continue to reportedly shun the team for other options, many have looked towards other possibilities. One of those was veteran Tyson Chandler, whom the Lakers reportedly had interest in.
— Have you seen the ‘Lakers Nation’ phone case? —
Unfortunately for the Lakers, Chandler has agreed to a deal with the Phoenix Suns according to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski:
Tyson Chandler has agreed to a deal with the Suns, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 1, 2015
ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that Chandler’s contract is for four years and $52 million:
ESPN sources say Tyson Chandler has agreed to a four-year deal with the Phoenix suns worth $52 million
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 1, 2015
Chandler isn’t the big star as guys such as LaMarcus Aldridge or Kevin Love, but his rebounding and defense remain some of the best in the league, and he’s a veteran presence. The Lakers turning to him would have been a solid choice, but the Suns were able to swoop in.
The Lakers still are trying to convince Greg Monroe or DeAndre Jordan to join the team, and Aldridge has yet to agree to a deal with the Spurs so technically that is still an option. If they can’t get one of those players, they could turn to Robin Lopez, Kosta Koufos, or Omer Asik who are all solid defensive options as well. Tobias Harris is also an option if the Lakers look at the small forward position.
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