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NBA: 7 players with the most to lose in 2014-15

By Bryce Olin

Mar 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) during the first quarter of a game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) during the first quarter of a game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 6, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler (6) reacts during the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler (6) reacts during the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Tyson Chandler, Dallas Mavericks

I loved the Mavericks’ trade to get Chandler back from the Knicks. Head coach Rick Carlisle found the best way to utilize Chandler is 2011 when the Mavs won the NBA title, and I’m very curious to see if Carlisle can get the effort, energy, and performance from Chandler once again.

Of course, that starts with Chandler getting healthy (which is the first of the many times I beat the “injury concerns” dead horse). Chandler has missed 25 games last season with the Knicks and 16 more games in 2012-13. That’s not exactly problematic for a player who has played as long and as hard as Chandler, but there is reason to be concerned.

Season G MP FG FGA FG% FT% TRB STL BLK PTS
2010-11 74 27.8 3.6 5.5 .654 .732 9.4 0.5 1.1 10.1
2011-12 62 33.2 3.9 5.7 .679 .689 9.9 0.9 1.4 11.3
2012-13 ★ 66 32.8 3.9 6.1 .638 .694 10.7 0.6 1.1 10.4
2013-14 55 30.2 3.5 5.9 .593 .632 9.6 0.7 1.1 8.7
Career 845 28.6 3.2 5.5 .584 .639 9.1 0.6 1.3 8.7

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/22/2014.

Chandler is 31 years old and entering his fourteenth season in the league. The years of Chandler receiving max contract offers are over, but at least he got paid while he could. This season, Chandler will be making $14.6 million in the final year of his contract.

Just because Chandler won’t be getting top dollar offers from around the league, it doesn’t mean he’s washed up at all. Dallas and Carlisle got Chandler a huge payday once before; why can’t they do it again? There’s no reason to think the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year can’t replicate his success from 2011 and be the cornerstone of the Mavericks’ defense next season.

Obviously, it depends on whether Chandler can stay healthy, but if he can, there’s a good chance the Mavs take care of Chandler next summer. I mean, they definitely didn’t trade away guards Jose Calderon and Shane Larkin for an overweight Raymond Felton. This trade was about Chandler.

Chandler has the ability to add a completely different dynamic to this Dallas team. If he succeeds, he could stay in Dallas for the rest of his career. If he fails or misses a ton of games due to injuries, Chandler might have a hard time finding a spot in a rotation for many teams next season.

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