Tyson Chandler A Distraction in Knicks Locker Room?

For as much credit as we give the Zen master, at times he’s not very Zen. Knicks president Phil Jackson cited the desire to change some of the chemistry of the team as one of the reasons a six-player trade that was consummated that sent center Tyson Chandler back to Dallas.

In a story with ESPN, Jackson originally commented on the trade with,

"“To do that we felt it was important to bring in some new personnel and start with some character guys that we feel can carry this forward. Watching them play I saw guys that looked at each other like, ‘You didn’t back me up, you weren’t here when I needed help.’ There just wasn’t the right combination or feel (where) it felt like everybody was in sync all the time.”"

Maybe Phil confused Chandler with Amar’e Stoudamire?

Regardless as to whether Jackson was pointing blame in Chandler’s direction, month’s later everyone involved had to duck and run for cover because a seemingly infuriated Chandler finally gave his response. Three years into a four-year, $60 million deal given to him from the Knicks, Tyson aimed and sent some words back to the Knicks.

Shots fired would be putting it lightly. In a separate interview with ESPN Dallas, Chandler said the following:

"“I did nothing but try to help the culture there the three years I was there,” Chandler said. “You can say I didn’t live up to whatever, or you didn’t like the way I played or anything. But to ever question who I am and the type of leader I am in the locker room, I don’t even know where that came from. I don’t know if Phil put that out there or who put that out there, but to me, that was the ultimate shock. And you don’t have to say that to get rid of me or to trade me. The trade is over.”"

Chandler was the 2013 NBA Defensive Player of the Year with the Knicks, and while he’s never made headlines for “So to judge my character and what I’ve done, you can go look at all my teammates and ask all of my teammates in the past, and the coaches I’ve played for, and I’ve never been a problem and never had a problem. So that was a shock to me that I didn’t appreciate.”

It does come to a shock that Chandler would be labeled as a locker room troublemaker. He was often credited as the emotional catalyst and spiritual leader for the Mavericks when they beat the Miami Heat in six games to win the franchise’s first title in 2011.

In his 13-year career Chandler has averages of 8.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. During his last tenure in Dallas, Mavs owner Mark Cuban and coach Rick Carlisle all credited Chandler for his leadership potential, for that same reason they’re happy to have him back in a Mavericks uniform.  A true story of one man’s trash being another team’s treasure.

And don’t get it twisted, Chandler will contribute some hoop and physicality to the Mavericks as well. Although he’s a 13-yeas veteran in the league, he’s not Mister Miyagi yet. Don’t hang up his karate slippers just yet. The young stud still has some Cobra Kai in him; he’s Dutch, just more professional.

He’s controlled the defensive end of the floor with no mercy all of his career. A man confronts him at the rim he is the enemy and an enemy deserves no mercy. Last season Chandler was 20th in offensive rebounding percentage, 11th in defensive rebounding percentage and 12th in total rebounding percentage. He also ranked 19th in block percentage, not too shabby for a semi-old man.

"“You can go to any of the staff members or anybody and ask them what kind of guy I was when I was there, and if I was the guy who was pushing for what is right all the time and they would tell you so,” Chandler continued. “That more than anything in my career caught me off guard. I can stomach somebody saying he didn’t produce or whatever, and that’s just motivation. But a shot at someone’s character or professionalism, that’s a little far-fetched.”"

Chandler’s going to rip the Knicks in the regular season. He’s never been accused of dialing it in, but you can expect him to drop a few extra buckets of sweat when the Mavericks see New York. Unless Phil (Jackson) pulls off a move for a real big man who plays the block, Chandler will be taking a large bite out of the Big Apple this season.