Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve Tyson Chandler, who chose his hometown team over the reigning champion Golden State Warriors.
There have been plenty of Los Angeles Lakers rumors in the early going of the season. With a low start, head coach Luke Walton came under fire. However, the Lakers rumors surrounding Walton quieted down with the addition of center, Tyson Chandler.
Chandler signed with the Lakers after agreeing to a buyout with the Phoenix Suns. Chandler went unclaimed, as no team wanted to pick up the money remaining on his one-year, $13.5 million deal. As a result, Chandler got to pick his landing spot and selected the Lakers.
This is a homecoming for Chandler, who went to high school in Compton. He was excited to be joining the Lakers, but it was not an easy decision for him.
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According to Chandler, himself, there were about five teams that were interested in bringing him aboard.
"“There was like, I think five teams, and then I narrowed it down to two,” Chandler said. “I had to do some heavy thinking and praying, and I could only see myself in a Laker uniform.”"
While Chandler wouldn’t fully delve into who wanted to sign him, he did share who was in his final two. For him, it came down to the Lakers and Golden State Warriors.
It is not often that a team can defeat the Warriors in any aspect, but the Lakers were able to accomplish it this time with Chandler. Los Angeles is fortunate that Chandler decided to come home, as it has worked out excellently for both sides.
Chandler has looked rejuvenated after playing sparingly, and not too well, with the Suns. However, with a defined role as the backup to JaVale McGee, Chandler looks right at home.
In his three games with the Lakers, the team is undefeated and Chandler has had a hand in the victories. The team’s defense has improved with Chandler as an anchor, and he is providing solid production as well. In his first three games, he averaged 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per game.
While they are not eye-popping numbers, they are exactly what Los Angeles needed. Their defense had been a huge problem to begin the season, but Chandler has helped turn things around on that side of the ball.