When Tyson Chandler asked to be let go from the Phoenix Suns to go to another pasture, he probably expected a much greener one that he got.
In early November, veteran center Tyson Chandler and the Phoenix Suns came to a mutual agreement on a buyout. He had an opportunity to leave a team that had started 1-7, losing by an average of 14 points per game. The decorated big would have several options for new teams and would for sure have a chance to go to a team with playoff hopes instead of stay with a franchise whose arrow was pointing straight down.
Then, he realized he had the chance to live a dream. The Los Angeles Lakers, his hometown team that he grew up a fan of, were interested in signing him. They now had LeBron James on board, after signing the King in the off season, and were looking at big things. Better yet, they needed help in the middle, and he could provide that for them.
So, of course, he left the lowly Suns that were looking again like one of the bottom teams in the league and ran to the Lakers who had big plans.
Los Angeles thought they did, at least. That, we know now, was just not the case.
The parting worked out for Phoenix as they discovered just how good Richaun Holmes is and how capable and ready he was to hold the reins of the backup center position. Had Chandler stayed, he likely wouldn’t have got the chance he did and so the Suns and Holmes were both winners in the deal.
There will be no purple and orange in the playoffs, as they sit at 17 wins on the season. So, Tyson was right on that end. However, there will be no purple and gold in the post season either, so he was also wrong on that end. The Lakers only have 31 wins, are currently 9 games below .500 and are 10.5 games back of the 8th seed with 11 games to go. It just isn’t happening.
With the playoffs out of the question and a stiff neck keeping him on the sidelines as well according to the Lakers’ injury report, Tyson has only played in one of the last 10 games and only saw 5 minutes of action in that contest.
Not only did he not get to go to the playoffs, he’s had to deal with a soap opera of a season just like the Suns (maybe even more so). He’s also wilting away on the pine instead of having a firm place in the rotation, which he had when he was in the valley.
Be careful what you wish for, because the grass is NOT always greener on the side. Just ask Chandler. Well, at least he’s home. He got that much, I guess.