Eric SorensonThe day the NBA moratorium was lifted the Phoenix Suns made it official introducing veteran center Tyson Chandler to the media after agreeing to a four-year, $52 million deal.
The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year checks many boxes for the Phoenix, maybe none more vital than being a veteran, respected presence on and off the court for the young Suns.
“I think guys know that I’m going to be honest,” the 14-year NBA veteran explained. “The older you get when you’re around great vets…you start to pick up things along the way. I try to pick my times with young guys…looking at the Phoenix Suns roster…I saw there was a lot of potential there.”
Sign, sealed, delivered. It’s official! @TysonChandler’s a ☀️! #WeArePHX pic.twitter.com/LSzA4ahnrV
— #WeArePHX (@Suns) July 9, 2015
His new head coach echoed the sentiments and knows the 7-1, 240-pounder will give the Suns a much different look on the floor this fall.
“Tyson has done it at a high level his whole career,” Jeff Hornacek said. “He knows how to play the game, talk to teammates. Tyson will be a director [out] there.”
Chandler said the process was fluid as both parties shared mutual interest before the deal was completed. Each were sold on one early as free-agency opened July 1st.
“Free agency is always a difficult time for me,” he said. “They made it really comfortable for myself, my wife.”
His resume includes three NBA All-Defensive team selections, an NBA Championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 and a Gold Medal representing Team USA at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Chandler’s 59.1% shooting clip is second-highest in league history, among those with at least 2,000 makes, to Hall-of-Famer Artis Gilmore.
“When I think of Tyson Chandler,” general manager Ryan McDonough explained. “I think of a winner.”
The team also formally announced the three-player deal which sent wing forwards Marcus Morris, Danny Granger and Reggie Bullock to the Detroit Pistons for a 2020 second-round pick.
