Sources: Warriors' No. 1 target is Tyson Chandler
Make that two known teams that have directly courted Dallas Mavericks free agent Tyson Chandler.
The Golden State Warriors had their first direct contact with Chandler on Tuesday, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions.
The Warriors, sources said, have made Chandler their No. 1 roster target -- no matter what happens with their recent trade talks with the New Orleans Hornets about Chris Paul --- and join the Houston Rockets on the list of teams to directly engage Chandler in the past 48 hours.
The New Jersey Nets are also expected to talk with Chandler this week.
Sources say negotiations between the Mavericks and Chandler are essentially frozen, with Dallas determined to maintain as much payroll flexibility as possible for the summer of 2012, even if it means losing the defensive lynchpin of the first championship team in franchise history.
The Mavericks fear that matching the offers Chandler will get on the open market will not only take them out of the race for 2012 free-agent stars Dwight Howard, Deron Williams and Paul but also prevent them from finding a younger cornerstone player to team with Dirk Nowitzki as the 33-year-old gets older.
According to one source close to the situation, Chandler's deal from whoever wins the race to sign him will be at least $50 million over four years.
103.3 FM ESPN PODCASTS
Play Podcast ESPN NBA analyst Jalen Rose joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to talk about the NBA playoffs.
Play Podcast Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle gives his take on the contrasting styles of the Pacers and Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, Bulls-Heat, Tom Thibodeau, the state of the West and more.
Play Podcast Chuck Cooperstein joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to talk about who he would rather have if forced to choose between Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.
Play Podcast Tim MacMahon joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the possibility of Chris Paul joining the Mavericks and break down what kind of pitch Mark Cuban would have to make to the NBA's best point guard.
Play Podcast ESPN.com senior NBA writer Marc Stein joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to touch on the storylines in the NBA playoffs and offer a Mavs perspective.
Play Podcast Rick Carlisle joins Chuck Cooperstein and Tim MacMahon to discuss the Mavericks' disappointing season and what needs to happen for them to get back to the playoffs.
Play Podcast Donnie Nelson joins Chuck Cooperstein and Tim MacMahon to discuss the Mavericks' season and the importance of this summer.
Play Podcast Rick Carlisle joins Galloway & Company to discuss the Mavericks playing after being eliminated from playoff contention, whom he wants to keep for next season and much more.
TEAM LEADERS
| POINTS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Dirk Nowitzki
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | S. Marion | 7.8 | ||||||||||
| Assists | D. Collison | 5.1 | ||||||||||
| Steals | D. Collison | 1.2 | ||||||||||
| Blocks | E. Brand | 1.3 | ||||||||||





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