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

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Nov 30, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler (4) against the Atlanta Hawks at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Hawks 109-107. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Portland Trail Blazers

The Celtics make sense as a potential Chandler destination, but according to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the one team we’ve actually heard to be interested in him is the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Blazers could clearly use Chandler for the leagues 29th-ranked defense and 26th-ranked rebounding unit, especially since the objective this year is to make the postseason. Despite their 16-23 record, Rip City currently occupies the eighth playoff spot in the West.

After spending millions of dollars in free agency to invest in internal growth, the Blazers won’t be looking to blow things up. Rather, they’ll be looking to tweak the roster, most likely with defensive-minded veterans just like Chandler.

Mason Plumlee is an exemplary passing big, but no one is sold on him as a rim protector, rebounder or defensive anchor. Chandler could teach him a thing or two and help tighten up the roster leading into a final playoff push.

Even better, GM Neil Olshey would only be giving up the injured Festus Ezeli and Ed Davis — a backup who is steadily being phased out of Terry Stotts’ rotation — in terms of actual players.

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There would be a 2017 first-rounder from Cleveland that McDonough would push for, but that pick will probably be 27th, 28th or 29th in this year’s draft. Unless Olshey was planning on packaging it with Portland’s own first-rounder to move up in the draft, it’s not all that valuable for a team that already has plenty of youth to worry about developing.

The Suns would net a first-rounder, Davis could spell the rookies without stealing their minutes, and Ezeli, once he’s finally healthy, could be a very useful rim protector. If he returns to full health, he could either back up Alex Len for the foreseeable future or, in the event the Suns pass on Len’s restricted free agency, take his place as the starter.

Either way, the Suns accomplish their goal of adding a future first-rounder, even if the two players might amount to little more than a backup and an injured reserve.

One potential obstacle to a deal would be Olshey not wanting to surrender a first round pick for a first round playoff exit, but it’s worth noting that this franchise wants to grow internally, which is something that happens in the playoffs regardless of the outcome.

Next: 5 Teams That Could Trade For Jimmy Butler

We should also mention, as we have already, that the Suns might not look to deal Chandler — unless it’s to a contender — after he encouraged the front office to resist trading him over the summer.