LeBron James is not only the best basketball player alive, but he is also perhaps the shrewdest NBA mind in the game today. James knows how to help facilitate and construct a roster worthy of making deep playoff runs, as evidenced by the past eight seasons.
With the Lakers, his impact has been emphasized even further, which was apparent when LA went out and snagged a plethora of solid veterans in free agency. However, James’ biggest off-court move thus far in LA may have just taken place when Tyson Chandler agreed to join the Lakers.
Chandler was bought out by the Phoenix Suns, but some think it was more of a favor to James than it was a move in the best interest for Phoenix. An NBA Executive told Bleacher Report that Phoenix could’ve maximized Chandler’s veteran impact by keeping him, but Suns VP, and LeBron’s close friend, James Jones had other ideas.
Typically, the NBA buyout market doesn’t heat up until the February trade deadline. In Chandler’s case with the Phoenix Suns, that would’ve been the expected timeline. The ship had long since sailed on the idea that Chandler would be a part of any sort of championship pursuit in Phoenix, but at least he could serve as a role model and mentor to No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton.
And that was the plan…until LeBron called in a favor.
“They could have bought him out at the trade deadline and gotten great leadership and mentoring for two-thirds of the season,” a rival executive told B/R. “But LeBron wanted him now.”
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin confirms that LeBron was the primary reason for Chandler coming to LA.
Phoenix interim GM James Jones was a longtime teammate of LeBron’s in Miami and Cleveland.
“James did LeBron a solid,” a league source told ESPN.
When presented with the claim, LeBron said it was really Chandler who benefited the most.
“He deserves all the credit,” he told ESPN of Jones. “He was very instrumental. He did right by Tyson as a veteran.”
Though Lakers President Magic Johnson surely had a role in bringing Chandler in, it appears LeBron James was also a facilitator.
We’ve seen this out of James countless times throughout his career and now we’re seeing it again early on in Los Angeles. Having power on the court and off it is one of the few perks that comes with being the best player alive and James has consistently found a way to maximize it.
It’s no surprise LeBron wanted the Lakers to add someone such as a Tyson Chandler. Chandler brings another leader to a young locker room along with James and Rajon Rondo while also adding championship pedigree and playoff experience. With Chandler now locked in as the backup center, perhaps the Lakers take another step forward in a tough Western Conference.
