(Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to make their first roster addition of the regular season with the expected signing of Tyson Chandler.
There was mounting anticipation that the Los Angeles Lakers were slated to make a move to their roster or coaching staff as the team limped out of the starting gate. Roster holes were gaping, the defense has been as terrible as advertised and there is a lot of internal and external expectations for this team to succeed from the get-go.
Well, the Lakers are primed to make their first move of the 2018-19 regular season just three weeks in the campaign. Veteran big man Tyson Chandler will be bought out from the remainder of his contract by the Phoenix Suns, and once he clears waivers, the expectation is he will sign with the Lakers, according to the New York Times‘ Marc Stein.
Chandler has been a minimal contributor for the Suns, appearing in seven games but only averaging 12.7 minutes per game. His averages were 3.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.1 blocks per game, which are all well below his career averages.
Chandler is 36 years old, in his 18th NBA season and clearly past his prime. But the Lakers don’t need prime Tyson Chandler. They need a big man that can fill in for JaVale McGee for 12-18 minutes per game, and Chandler can do that on the court while giving the Lakers another veteran presence in the locker room. Here are three reasons to like this move for the Lakers if it takes place.
Los Angeles Lakers</a> were slated to make a move to their roster or coaching staff as the team limped out of the starting gate. Roster holes were gaping, the defense has been as terrible as advertised and there is a lot of internal and external expectations for this team to succeed from the get-go.</p>
<p>Well, the Lakers are primed to make their first move of the 2018-19 regular season just three weeks in the campaign. Veteran big man <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chandty01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Tyson Chandler</a> will be bought out from the remainder of his contract by the Phoenix Suns, and once he clears waivers, the expectation is he will sign with the Lakers, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1058836304056602629">according to the <em>New York Times</em>‘ Marc Stein</a>.</p>
<p>Chandler has been a minimal contributor for the Suns, appearing in seven games but only <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chandty01.html" ref="nofollow">averaging</a> 12.7 minutes per game. His averages were 3.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.1 blocks per game, which are all well below his career averages.</p>
<p>Chandler is 36 years old, in his 18th NBA season and clearly past his prime. But the Lakers don’t need prime Tyson Chandler. They need a big man that can fill in for <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcgeeja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">JaVale McGee</a> for 12-18 minutes per game, and Chandler can do that on the court while giving the Lakers another veteran presence in the locker room. Here are three reasons to like this move for the Lakers if it takes place.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>3. Stable head in the locker room</h3>
<p>Coming into the season, the Los Angeles Lakers had one of the most interesting blends of personalities in their locker room. There was the group of young players that clowned each other on social media, the Meme Team with <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rondora01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Rajon Rondo</a>, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/stephla01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Lance Stephenson</a>, JaVale McGee and <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/beaslmi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Michael Beasley</a>, and then <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">LeBron James</a>, who has been known to take his own subtle shots at teammates, trying to rein them all in.</p>
<p>There have been no signs of trouble with this clash of personalities, and there’s constant joy on the bench celebrating a ferocious dunk or big-time shot. But it’s early in the season, and who knows what can take place from this point forward in the season with inconsistent playing time for the backcourt already underway?</p>
<p>Insert Tyson Chandler, who has been one of the most stable locker room presences in the NBA for a long time. Chandler has been through everything in a career. He’s a <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chandty01.html" ref="nofollow">former</a> No. 2 overall pick that has been on terrible teams and was labelled a bust for great stretches of his early career. He was never the offensive player people would hope from a second overall pick, but found his place as one of the best big man defenders and rim protectors in his career.</p>
<p>He anchored the Dallas Mavericks’ defense in their <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2011-nba-finals-mavericks-vs-heat.html" ref="nofollow">2011 NBA championship team</a>, did the same for the 2012-13 New York Knicks team that went to the Eastern Conference semifinals (their best season since late 1990s) and has navigated his way through the NBA since then. He signed a <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/13182504/tyson-chandler-agrees-four-year-52-million-deal-phoenix-suns">contract in 2015 with Phoenix, where he’s seen his fair share of losing and hardship with plenty of roster overhaul.</p>
<p>Chandler has never complained publicly and had to deal with the consistent struggle young players go through in the NBA. He understands the dynamics of NBA locker rooms and will be a perfect fit for the Lakers. Chandler will provide another old head for LeBron James and Rajon Rondo to bounce ideas off of while learning plenty throughout his career about handling the pressure of being a high draft pick — something he went through himself and saw firsthand in Phoenix with <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=bookede01,bookede02&search=Devin+Booker&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Devin Booker</a> and others alike.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 2 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2. Great rim-roller and screen-setter</h3>
<p>One of the standouts of the Los Angeles Lakers’ opening nine games has been the play of JaVale McGee, who is having a career year in <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcgeeja01.html" ref="nofollow">scoring</a> this season at 15.1 points per game. A lot of these come from alley-oops, finding space in the paint where teammates can dish it off to him and running the rim after diving from pick-and-rolls.</p>
<p>McGee has been the perfect fit in the middle of the Lakers’ spacious offense by taking advantage of the openings in the paint provided by defenders focusing their attention on the playmakers on the perimeter. McGee’s screening talents have developed since his time with the Golden State Warriors. He was an effective player for the Warriors when given the time, and is finding plenty of success with the Lakers.</p>
<p>After McGee, the Lakers have literally zero talented rim-runners. The offense becomes one-dimensional with McGee on the bench, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willijo04.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Johnathan Williams</a> and <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/z/zubaciv01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Ivica Zubac</a> have had small spurts of positivity when replacing McGee, but the addition of Tyson Chandler would give the Lakers a like-for-like replacement when McGee is resting.</p>
<p>Chandler is known for four things: Hard screens, rim-rolling, rebounding and defense (we’ll get to this shortly). He has forged an 18-year career by being great at those four things. He still is in solid shape, and will be able to take advantage of the same space that McGee has found success with.</p>
<p>Chandler is also an underrated passer, with the ability to find open shooters when catching passes after rolling to the rim. Adding Chandler impacts this offense in a positive way. Having a floor-spacing 5 is something NBA teams covet, but the impact of a great screen-setter that can roll to the rim and make the right reactionary play with the ball in his hand is still a great skill-set to have on your team. The Lakers would now have two of them.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 1 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>1. Defense, defense, defense</h3>
<p>The Los Angeles Lakers have been a joke on defense this year. They surrender the fourth-most points per game in the NBA at <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://stats.nba.com/teams/opponent/?sort=OPP_PTS&dir=1%22>119.9. They give up the most points in the paint in the NBA at <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://stats.nba.com/teams/misc/?sort=OPP_PTS_PAINT&dir=1%22>57.8 per game. The only time they are somewhat decent on defense is when JaVale McGee and his NBA-leading 3.6 <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcgeeja01.html" ref="nofollow">blocks per game</a> are on the court. McGee boasts a team-best 102.0 defensive rating according to <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612747/onoffcourt-advanced/?sort=DEF_RATING&dir=-1%22>NBA.com (not counting Ivica Zubac in his three games played).</p>
<p>The experiment of <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/04/los-angeles-lakers-3-reasons-signing-tyson-chandler-smart/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kuzmaky01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Kyle Kuzma</a> playing the 5 has come and gone for the most part and rolling out the foul machines Zubac and Johnathan Williams has gone well either. Tyson Chandler is not the end-all, be-all to fixing the Lakers defensive woes, but he’s a great anchor to have for his would be expected playing time.</p>
<p>Chandler isn’t the defender he once was, but his communication, rim protection and rebounding still is miles ahead of what the Lakers have on their roster after McGee. He is constantly barking out screens and where everybody is on the defensive side of the court, an underrated part of defense.</p>
<p>He could be targeted when switched onto smaller guards, but the Lakers have shifted away from switching every screen allowing McGee to roam the paint. Chandler would be allowed to hang in the paint for the most part, challenging shots and dominating the boards when on the court.</p>
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<p>Tyson Chandler won’t fix the Lakers’ problems, but for 15 minutes a game, having him on the floor would be a significant upgrade over what was on the roster. For his price tag and without having to surrender anything in return, this would be a smart move for the organization.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">