The New Orleans Hornets have traded center Tyson Chandler to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for forwards Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox, along with the draft rights to DeVon Hardin.
The deal is widely considered to be a dump of cap space for the Hornets.
Even with the lack of cap room, this deal doesn’t make much sense for New Orleans. As of now, the Hornets are probably the 4th or 5th best team in the West, and Chandler was their best interior defender. Chris Paul and Tyson had become a very good combo over the last couple of seasons, combining for countless alley-oops night after night.
This move doesn’t mean the Hornets are throwing in the towel, but money may have cost the Hornets their shot at a Championship.
[...] down as the biggest steal of the off-season. The easiest way to look at this act of theft: Hornets traded Chandler to the Thunder for Joe Smith (34 years old) and Chris Wilcox before the deal was rescinded. Instead they get Emeka [...]