News-Herald: Would Cavs Be Interested In Tyson Chandler This Summer?

It is unconventional to think about the offseason when a team is in the middle of a championship run, but let’s think long-term here. Let’s think dynasty.

Cavs GM Danny Ferry has a chance to build something very, very special in Cleveland. Although these Cavaliers are a 66-win team, they don’t look like a 66-win team on paper. The whole is much greater than the sum of its parts, and the team chemistry and cohesiveness on this team is unheard of in today’s professional sports.

One glaring weakness on this Cavaliers team moving forward is the age of the frontcourt. Although it seems like he already has, Zydrunas Ilgauskas is not going to be around forever. The big man turns 34 next month, and in all likelihood, his Cavalier tenure should be over after his contract expires next summer in the highly-anticipated summer of 2010.

Ben Wallace already is 34, and he turns 35 in September. His contract, like Z’s, is up in 2010, as well.

Anderson Varejao is just 26, but he’ll be entering unrestricted free agency this summer. That in itself is as unpredictable as anything the Cavs will have to face this offseason. J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson, the team’s two rookie big men, are too young and unproven, and neither seems likely to make a major contribution as early as next season.

So here’s a tidbit thrown out there earlier this week by the News-Herald’s Bob Finnan:

Whatever happens, James is expected to sit tight this summer and not
sign an extension. He probably doesn’t want to get buyer’s remorse like
Hornets guard Chris Paul did. Sources say the Hornets are like a house of cards and could tumble at any time.

Sources say everyone on the Hornets’ roster is available except Paul and power forward David West. The Cavs could have interest in 7-foot-1 center Tyson Chandler, who has had some ankle and toe problems. But he’s only 26. That’s one to keep your eye on.

Chandler — along with Joe Johnson — is a guy that I wanted the Cavs to target in 2005 when they had tons of cap room and Chandler was a restricted free agent with the Chicago Bulls. In the end, Ferry decided not to gamble with restricted free agents, and Chandler ended up signing a six-year, $62 million deal with the Bulls.

After the 2005-06 season, Chandler’s first after re-signing with Chicago, the Bulls signed Ben Wallace to be their low-post defender. Chandler was traded to New Orleans for J.R. Smith (who was then inexplicably dealt to Denver).

It’s in New Orleans where Chandler really made a name for himself.

In 2006-07, his first with the Hornets, Chandler played and started in 73 games, averaging 9.5 points, 12.4 boards, and 1.8 blocks on a ridiculous 62.4 percent shooting from the field.

But the following season, the best in Hornets’ franchise history, Chandler played and started in 79 games, averaging 11.8 points, 11.7 boards, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 62.3 percent. He and Chris Paul, New Orleans’ franchise point guard, combined to form the league’s best alley-oop tandem as Chandler emerged as one the fiercest finishers around the rim in the NBA.

So now, a year later, why would the Hornets want to trade him?

Because they have already tried to — and failed. New Orleans had a deal signed, sealed, and delivered with Oklahoma City sending Chandler to the Thunder in exchange for Chris Wilcox and, ironically, Joe Smith. However, OKC rescinded the trade after their team physician questioned an injury on Chandler’s left big toe. Chandler, who had already missed a good amount of time with a sprained left ankle, went back to the Hornets in one of the more awkward moments of the entire NBA season.

That move has already proven to be a little bit of a blessing in disguise for the Cavs, who were able to scoop up Joe Smith after the Thunder bought him out. Had the trade gone through, the Hornets would have wanted Smith to be their low-post player in Chandler’s absence, and there would have been no chance of him being bought out.

Funny how things work. But the voiding of that trade may come back to bless the Cavs even further this summer.

The probability of the Hornets moving Chandler is already high. He is signed for next year at $11.9 million and has a player option for 2010-11 at $12.8 million. After two phenomenal years, Chandler regressed with injury problems in 2008-09 and put up a mere 8.8 points, 8.7 boards, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 56.5 percent from the field in just 45 games.

However, this is a risk that the Cavs will have to take, especially considering how little they can get Chandler for. Ben Wallace’s expiring contract for 2010 is a good place to start. Also, if the Hornets plan to have a firesale this summer involving everyone but Chris Paul and David West, why not go further? Why not try to get Cleveland native James Posey, as well?

Ferry can look to move Sasha Pavlovic’s expiring deal for 2010 in an attempt to get both Chandler and Posey for next summer, especially with Posey being signed through 2011-12 on the Hornets’ books. Wallace is $14 million off the books for 2010 and can keep the Hornets competitive
at least for 2009-10. Pavlovic only has $1.5 of his $5 million for next
year guaranteed, so if New Orleans wants to waive him, they would be throwing about
$18 million off the books and getting out of the luxury tax.

In fact,
if the Hornets waive Pavlovic and give him his $1.5 million to leave, they’d be looking at
saving $2.5 to $3 million for next year alone before saving all that
other money in 2010.

That essentially gives the Cavs Posey to replace free-agent-to-be Wally Szczerbiak off the bench. It also gives them a young 26-year old big man who can board, block shots, and finish strong around the rim to put alongside Ilgauskas up front. In the end, if Chandler doesn’t prove to be what he was a year or two ago, all the Cavs lost is Ben Wallace, who they were going to lose anyways.

But let’s flip the script: What if Chandler does come back to form?