Hornets trade Tyson Chandler to Thunder

Oklahoma City's first big-time pro franchise is a couple steps closer to its first playoff berth with Tuesday's trade for Tyson Chandler. Believe it.

Sure, the Thunder sit in the Western Conference cellar and are much closer to the first draft pick than the first round. But the deal for the Hornets' defensive-minded starting center continues the push by general manager Sam Presti to build a contender. The roster still lacks depth, but the future is stocked with promise.

And the West isn't as intimidating as people might think, especially in the next couple of years. Outside of the Lakers and Blazers, much of the conference is on the downswing. The Hornets, expected to contend before the start of the season, don't look as formidable after the cost-cutting move with Chandler. Houston and Dallas have been disappointments, and two of their key guys (Houston's Ron Artest and Dallas' Jason Kidd) are free agents this summer. Phoenix is trying to salvage the season after firing Terry Porter. Utah could lose Carlos Boozer.

If the Thunder starts to rumble, it doesn't take much to project a postseason berth.

The Thunder's youthful nucleus of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green has added a fourth in Chandler, an athletic 26-year-old 7-footer who doesn't need the ball to be effective. That's a plus considering the three kids are OKC's three leading scorers.

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Official release: Hornets send Chandler to Thunder for Wilcox, veteran Smith. Read Full Article

Presti still has plenty to work with, too. He might not be done dealing this week. The possibilities are many with five first-round choices in the next two years and significant cap space, even with Chandler's $12 million salary next season. Expect the Thunder to use those picks and/or financial flexibility to continue to add talent from teams looking to shed payroll in these touch economic times.

That's the crux of OKC becoming relevant in the West. Unlike the glamour franchises angling for the class of the Class of 2010 -- LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the like -- the Thunder's front office isn't worrying about the big splash. The Thunder are trying to draft max-guys and fill in the gaps around them.

The team is off to go a good start with Durant. Anyone unsure that Durant wasn't a LeBron starter kit only needed to watch last week's Rookie Challenge again. In the next couple of years, he could become the second best player in the West, behind Kobe Bryant. Westbrook is a budding star at point guard who can jump out of the gym. Green, starting now at power forward, may eventually be better suited to come off the bench at both forward spots.

The Thunder can be opportunistic in a market where many teams just want to dump contracts. The low-risk signing of Nenad Krstic earlier this season was underrated, but brought needed help to the frontline. Though the team still has to make significant upgrades at shooting guard and on the bench, there are fewer holes than at the start of the season. The upcoming draft could net local stud Blake Griffin.

Yes, there' still plenty of work to be done. But the playoffs may not be as far away as you think.

I think great trade, but not for both sides.
Thunder have added some experiance to their roster. With their first quality big man.

I think Thunder took it by a landslide

Wilcox and Smith?! For Tyson Chandler! Who is the guy running the Hornets, he's a total nutcase... of his rocker.

New Orleans have just gone down a couple of notches in the West...

Just a rumor

Same like VC rumor

rjt wrote:: Just a rumor

Same like VC rumor

It's already happened. It is CONFIRMED.. it ain't a rumor.

Your right. If it wasn't already happened it wouldn't be on the top page of the the front cover of NBA.com

Hey can someone give me a run down on what actually happend after that trade like how did Chandler remain a Hornets after the trade? The Thunder imo would of got the better deal

SlamDunk wrote:: Hey can someone give me a run down on what actually happend after that trade like how did Chandler remain a Hornets after the trade? The Thunder imo would of got the better deal

Chandler failed the physical, so Chandler cancelled the trade.

Yes that was it, I agree I would of li8ke Chandler to have played for the Thunder but that was not to be. Is Smith even that good? He hasnt played a lot of minutes for the Oklahoma Thunder. Wilcox imo has be going strong for the Thunder but now has ended up with the New York Knicks

Would've been a good trade for the Thunder

TheFeldster wrote:

rjt wrote:: Just a rumor

Same like VC rumor

It's already happened. It is CONFIRMED.. it ain't a rumor.

I told you it's a rumor

Guess who is right now?

It wasn't a rumor. He was traded but he is back.

lol

Yeah i know that,for me the if you canceled the trade,which means a rumor

No it doesn't... a rumor means something that may or may not be true.

This was proven to be true, and then circumstances change. It wasn't a rumor

OK man

But my guessing was right,he's stay

He would've went.

But stupid physical stopped him from going

I know that

Seems like "Thunder by a landslide" won.

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Hornets trade Tyson Chandler to Thunder

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