NBA Trade News – Official: Chandler Returns to Dallas; Calderon, Dalembert to New York
The Dallas Mavericks haven’t forgotten that Tyson Chandler was one of their key players during their NBA championship run in 2011. The Texas franchise re-acquired the big man know in a deal that sent point guard Jose Calderon and center Samuel Dalembert to the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
The trade also involved other players as veteran PG Raymond Felton is on the way to Dallas while barely used players like Shane Larkin and Wayne Ellington will be sent to New York, which will also receive the No. 34 and No. 51 picks in the 2014 NBA Draft set on Thursday, June 26 (Friday in Australia).
After the title run three years ago, Chandler was let go by the Mavericks as a free agent thinking that the big man is past his prime and doesn’t deserve a big contract. The 31-year-old originally from Hanford, California is set to be paid roughly $28.6 million for the next two years with an average salary of over $14M.
Chandler was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2001 and played there until 2006. He also played with the New Orleans Hornets (2006 to 2009); Charlotte Bobcats (2009-2010); and the Mavericks and Knicks from 2010 to 2014.
The move won’t hurt the Mavericks’ salary cap in this offseason with just $35.2M committed so far in the 2014-2015 NBA season. The NBA salary cap is projected to land at round $63M for the new season which means that Dallas has room for another maximum salaried superstar.
German forward Dirk Nowitzki, whose $22.7M contract expired in 2013-14, has publicly stated that he’s willing to take a pay cut to help the Mavs build a legit title contender in the twilight of his career.
For New York, the move meant getting two serviceable players and potential starters as well as shedding off salary in the next two years. Calderon earns $7M a year in the next two seasons and the trio of Dalambert ($3.87M if the team option is picked up by the Knicks), Larkin ($1.5M) and Ellingoton ($2.5M) are off the books after the 2014-2015 season.