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NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Teams That Should Trade For Tyson Chandler

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 7, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; NBA referee Ken Mauer and Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler (4) against the Indiana Pacers at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Pacers defeated the Suns 109-94. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; NBA referee Ken Mauer and Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler (4) against the Indiana Pacers at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Pacers defeated the Suns 109-94. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Rumors
Dec 19, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) looks to pass the ball as Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler (4) plays defense in the second half at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 115-108. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

Like the Milwaukee Bucks, the Minnesota Timberwolves could use some veteran leadership, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Tom Thibodeau’s squad ranks 24th in defensive rating, and young bigs Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng could certainly use more direction on that end.

Thibs has never seemed like the patient type, and though he won’t be auctioning off any of his key youngsters like KAT, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine or Kris Dunn, a trade for an experienced vet like Chandler would make some sense for the right price.

The question is, would a rebuilding team like the Timberwolves consider trading away a future first-rounder for a 34-year-old veteran like Chandler?

(NOTE: The Wolves owe Atlanta a lottery-protected first round pick in 2018, and if it’s not conveyed then, it remains lottery protected for 2019 and 2020. That means the soonest Phoenix could get a first-rounder from Minnesota would be two years after whenever that pick is conveyed, since the Wolves likely wouldn’t consider trading a potentially valuable 2017 first-rounder.)

The Suns would likely have to wait quite a few years for a first-rounder, but in this scenario, Thibodeau gets an experienced defensive anchor to help teach the young bigs how to be competent on that end. As long as the pick is a few years down the road, it’s not going to be a terrible loss for Minnesota either, especially once this talented young core rises through the ranks in the West.

Outside of a pick that would decrease in value the more that the Timberpups improve, all Minnesota would have to part with is backup big man Cole Aldrich, who was signed to a team-friendly deal but is only averaging 2.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game this year.

From the Suns’ perspective, they’d be getting a decent backup for Len who wouldn’t steal minutes from him. The 28-year-old Aldrich had a career year with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2015-16, averaging 5.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 13.3 minutes per game, making him a perfect backup for a rebuilding team like Phoenix.

Pocketing a future first-rounder would obviously be the real prize. Isn’t it possible a team with such a promising future makes a move for a savvy veteran and banks on its draft picks become less valuable as the years go by?