Chandler has offer from Warriors

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The ball is in Tyson Chandlers court.With NBA free agents allowed to officially sign contracts onFriday, Chandler has a deal from the Warriors in front of him worth more than60 million over four years, according to two league sources.The Warriors have made Chandler Priority No. 1 thisoffseason, and they hope to get an answer from Chandler on Day 1 of freeagency. The hope is by Friday the Warriors will know if they have a defensiveanchor at center or whether theyll have to go in another direction.In order to sign Chandler -- assuming he agrees -- theWarriors will likely have to amnesty center Andris Biedrins, still owed 27million over three years.
Chandler is considered one of the best big men in thisyears free agent class -- along with Nene and Marc Gasol. But among thosethree, Chandler is by far the best defender -- important to the Warriors becausethey want to place more of anemphasis on that end of the court under new coach Mark Jackson.Chandler helped the Dallas Mavericks secure their first-everNBA championship in 2011, and the door hasnt been closed on a return there,according to a source. However, Chandler indicated more than week ago hebelieved his days in Dallas were over.There are also rumblings that the New York Knicks are very much in the mix for Chandler, although it might take them using amnesty on Chauncey Billups to get him.Chandler averaged 10.1 points and 9.4 rebounds in 27.8minutes per game last season. However, Chandler missed significant portions ofeach of the previous two seasons with injury. A message was left with Chandler's agent, Jeff Schwartz, for comment, but he has not returned calls.If the Warriors were to sign Chandler, he would no doubtupgrade their interior defense, a woeful shortcoming of the team last season.Chandler is considered one of the best in the league at protecting the rima neededasset because the Warriors perimeter players often struggle keeping theopposition out of the lane.

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