The next edition of New York Knicks Trade History looks back at Tyson Chandler’s return to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2014 offseason.
When Phil Jackson took over the New York Knicks front office in 2014, he worked to overhaul the roster. From making a coaching change to trades that brought in new players, the legendary head coach tried to alter the team’s look.
One of the first deals sent Tyson Chandler out of town to the Dallas Mavericks. It ended his three years in New York and turned the page for a different era of basketball.
What the Knicks traded
The Knicks sent Chandler to Dallas, where he won the 2011 NBA Finals. It was a welcomed return for the veteran center, and he played well at 32 years old, with 10.1 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in a mostly healthy season.
It was Chandler’s lone year back, though, as he took a four-year contract with the Phoenix Suns in the 2015 offseason.
Raymond Felton‘s second Knicks stint ended, as well. He spent two seasons with the Mavericks, averaging 8.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 106 games; most of that came in 2015-16, with injuries ravaging the season prior.
What the Knicks acquired
The Knicks brought back a package of players and picks for these veterans, but finding value did not work in their favor.
Jose Calderon was the deal’s headline player. While no longer a top passer, he still topped four assists per game in Dallas and in two seasons with the Knicks, while starting all 114 games he appeared in.
New York needed a point guard at the time, and they received one, but not the player to lead this position into the future.
Samuel Dalembert seemed to represent center depth, and he started 21 games with the Knicks. However, the team waived him midway through the 2014-15 season, and he never played another NBA game.
The Knicks never gave Wayne Ellington a chance, instead trading him to the Sacramento Kings before the next season started. Five years later, he will actually play a game for the blue and orange at Madison Square Garden.
Shane Larkin was young and possessed some upside, but a 5-foot-11 frame and limited athleticism held him back. His lone season in New York resulted in 6.2 points and 3.0 assists on 43.3 percent shooting.
Two second-round picks went to the New York Knicks, which became Cleanthony Early and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Early shot just 34.6 percent in 56 games, and Antetokounmpo only made two appearances; however, he returned to the NBA with a contract from the Milwaukee Bucks in July.