OFFICIAL: Thunder get Chandler

mcmokken · Post #1 » by **mcmokken** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:28 pm

From ESPN:

The New Orleans Hornets and Oklahoma City Thunder have completed a deal that sends center Tyson Chandler to the Thunder, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources with knowledge of the trade parameters told ESPN.com that the deal was approved by the league office Tuesday afternoon, with the Hornets receiving forwards Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox in exchange for their best interior defender.

The deal has yet to be announced by the teams, but sources say that the Hornets will also receive the draft rights to Devon Hardin, who was selected No. 50 overall by the Thunder in the 2008 draft.

The Hornets play Tuesday night against the Thunder in Oklahoma City but the players involved in the trade are not expected to participate in the game.

ESPN.com reported early Monday that the Hornets -- who have been looking to move Chandler mostly for financial reasons -- were in talks with the Thunder on a trade that would net the expiring contracts of Smith and Wilcox. Thunder general manager Sam Presti is a long-time admirer of Chandler dating to his time with the San Antonio Spurs.

The Thunder also possess numerous draft picks to sweeten trade packages -- including five first-round picks in the next two drafts -- but Presti was able to land an accomplished center to complement his promising young trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green without surrendering any major draft considerations.

With a payroll at nearly $67 million this season and scheduled to reach almost $77 million next season, New Orleans felt it had to part with Chandler before Thursday's 3 p.m. trading deadline regardless, even though dealing away the 26-year-old almost certainly takes the Hornets out of serious playoff contention in the West.

The Hornets were widely projected as a dark-horse title contender entering the season but hit the All-Star break as the No. 6 team in the West at 30-20 after a variety of injuries and struggles to cope with raised expectations. Chandler has been bothered all season by foot troubles and is averaging just 8.8 points and 8.3 rebounds, compared to 11.8 points and 11.7 rebounds last season.

With the Hornets unable to generate trade interest in Peja Stojakovic and unwilling to part with either Chris Paul or David West, New Orleans elected to take this deal to erase Chandler's $12.3 million salary next season from its payroll. Chandler has the right to become a free agent after the 2009-10 season in the unlikely event that he chooses to walk away from his $13.2 million salary in 2010-11.

At the Hornets' Tuesday morning shootaround in Oklahoma City, West told the New Orleans Times Picayune that he was hoping his team would resist the trade interest in Chandler.

"I don't know if that's somebody we can afford to lose,'' West told the newspaper. "So I'm not sold on that idea. You just don't find a 7-foot-1 athlete like that and he's the only 7-footer we have. Especially if we're planning on making a run into the playoffs, we're going to need size to compete with Portland, San Antonio and the Lakers. I'm not sure that would help us.''

mcmokken · Post #2 » by **mcmokken** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:40 pm

Now all we need is to get the number 2 pick in the lottery and take Harden. That, and hope that Chandler's injuries don't severely hinder his game. I'm optimistic that this will all work out though. Camby was written off years ago as injury prone but he has been able to maintain a long and productive career into his 30s. Also NO isn't trading him away because they are worried about his injuries or drop in production, but simply for cost-cutting.

The Sonics suffered for years with so many crappy centers (Scheffler, McIlvaine, Calvin Booth, Jerome James, etc.) that I hope that the trend finally ends after this acquisition.

JO_CB_FTW · Post #3 » by **JO_CB_FTW** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:40 pm

http://www.oklahomathunder.org/new-orle ... -swirling/

LF91 · Post #4 » by **LF91** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:58 pm

Congratulations guys, seems like you're building a nice young team there.

Westbrook-Durant-Green-Chandler+This year's pick is a very good core to build around.

Post #5 » by **wizkid27** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:59 pm

Nice deal.

I'm amazed that they were able to pull it off without giving up ANY future picks. Wiff, you've gotta be happy too :-P

Guess we get to keep our lottery pick after all, hehe.

If this is infact the trade in its entirety, then Presti pulled off another GREAT fairly low-risk (in what we gave up) and very high-reward deal. This not only makes the team look good in the future, but potentially be fairly good right now. We definitely won't make the playoffs (unless we go undefeated for the rest of the year, lol)

AP_cb4 · Post #6 » by **AP_cb4** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:21 pm

if you guys end up drafting Griffin, OKC will be amazing

Westbrook,Durant,Green,Griffin,Chandler

Post #7 » by **SD2042** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:52 pm

Good move by the Thunder to get a young established center in Chandler. His athleticism and his ability to crash the boards will go a long way for the Thunder. On the Hornets side, I know they are dissapointed in having to deal Chandler away due to financial constraints as this move sets them back a bit.

Big_Mac79 · Post #8 » by **Big_Mac79** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:59 pm

Amazing deal for OKC. Presti is a wizard. Now please go get Salmons. I still believe it is possible withe the expiring contract of Mason (or use Collison) DJ White and add a 1st (if needed). I still think if possible draft Thabeet because he won't be ready to start for a couple years anyway.
This would be a recipe for success
Westbrook/Atkins
Salmons/Weaver
Durant/Wilkins
Green/Kristic
Chandler/Thabeet

HotSpurs21 · Post #9 » by **HotSpurs21** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:01 pm

good trade.

looks like OKC is really going toward the right direction. Very nice young core.

Post #10 » by **rsavaj** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:12 pm

Nicely done gents.

Post #11 » by **wizkid27** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:19 pm

Here's Christopher Reina's breakdown of the trade. He seems to agree with most around here... it's potentially a great deal for the Thunder and doesn't do anything for the Hornets' future, other than help the bottom line.

http://realgm.com/src_feature_pieces/741/20090217/grading_the_deal_hornets_give_away_chandler/

Post #12 » by **wizkid27** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:22 pm

Big_Mac79 wrote:Amazing deal for OKC. Presti is a wizard. Now please go get Salmons. I still believe it is possible withe the expiring contract of Mason (or use Collison) DJ White and add a 1st (if needed). I still think if possible draft Thabeet because he won't be ready to start for a couple years anyway.
This would be a recipe for success
Westbrook/Atkins
Salmons/Weaver
Durant/Wilkins
Green/Kristic
Chandler/Thabeet

I like the look of most of the lineup.. but I really don't see what Thabeet gives us. Basically (as long as Chandler gets healthy and puts in the effort), the upside for Thabeet is exactly what Chandler is now. At 26, we hardly need to develop his successor yet.

I don't think Atkins will be here next year... I think the whole reason we got him for Petro is because his contract is only like 20% guaranteed (if we release him we save a few mil).

I just think the lineup would be much more impressive with any of the top draft picks outside of Thabeet.

Sauce Boss · Post #13 » by **Sauce Boss** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:26 pm

not really a hardcore Thunder fan (I'm a Bucks guy), but I have been lightly following. I think this is a great deal for you guys, Presti always seems to be on the right end of his trades getting draft picks or talent for nearly nothing. If you guys can get a SG, maybe Salmons at the deadline, and some bench depth through the draft and fa, you will contend in the next few seasons. Plus it makes you better short term as well. Now only if you could get Avery Johnson to coach you....

Joel Embust · Post #14 » by **Joel Embust** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:48 pm

I'M SO PUMPED! Well done Presti!

sutrick · Post #15 » by **sutrick** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:48 pm

Congrats : it must be exciting being a Thunder fan now. If you get lucky in the draft you could pass Portland as the up and coming team in the West. In any case, the playoffs are now a realistic goal for next year. I'm not a big fan of Tyson but getting him for nothing is great.

vinnycorleone · Post #16 » by **vinnycorleone** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:10 pm

P.S. Devon Hardin could be really good in the NBA. I played against the guy in H.S. and I can proudly say he dunked on me 3x (not in the same game).

Canomad · Post #17 » by **Canomad** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:28 pm

im happy for the thunder like ive said in here i root for them as my second team and i like this core they have now chandler i think negates the drafting thabeet idea. but that was fine with me i think hes to raw to contribute like thunder will want next year. harden would look great in the thunder and this team could be scary in a couple years.

seejaydeja · Post #18 » by **seejaydeja** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:05 pm

vinnycorleone wrote:P.S. Devon Hardin could be really good in the NBA. I played against the guy in H.S. and I can proudly say he dunked on me 3x (not in the same game).

And this makes him a legit NBA prospect in what way?

vinnycorleone · Post #19 » by **vinnycorleone** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:09 pm

seejaydeja wrote:
vinnycorleone wrote:P.S. Devon Hardin could be really good in the NBA. I played against the guy in H.S. and I can proudly say he dunked on me 3x (not in the same game).

And this makes him a legit NBA prospect in what way?

I'm not a NBA Scout or anything but I've seen how he plays...he's raw talent wise. But he needs time to develop. He reminds me of a Theo Ratliff or a Bigger Carl Landry.

wiff · Post #20 » by **wiff** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:46 am

Holy Cow! Presti literally nabbed Chandler for nothing. Absolutely nothing!

No picks, no real rotation players, NOTHING!

NOTHING!!!!!!

Dude.......dude.

Wow!