NBA teams
Ian Begley, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Phil: Tyson Chandler wouldn't help

NBA, New York Knicks

New York Knicks president Phil Jackson took to Twitter to defend his decision to trade Tyson Chandler, saying Chandler could not have helped the team this season.

He also said that those questioning the trade should "relax."

"I'm OK with the Dallas deal. Tyson fits there and our three players, Jose, Sam, and Shane are on the court," he tweeted in response to a writer who opined the Dallas Mavericks got the better end of the trade.

Jackson's first trade as president of the Knicks sent Chandler and Raymond Felton to the Mavericks in exchange for Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Shane Larkin and two second-round picks (Cleanthony Early and Thanasis Antetokounmpo).

Thanks in part to the stellar play of Chandler, the Mavericks are off to a 19-8 record. The Knicks are 5-22, the worst start in franchise history through 27 games. 

Whether Chandler could have helped this year's team is up for debate. Maybe Chandler, who is in the final year of his contract, could have helped on the boards. The Knicks are getting outrebounded by an average of 2.7 rebounds per night, the fifth worst differential in the NBA.

Chandler is averaging 11.5 rebounds per game, the fifth highest total in the league entering play Thursday.

Jackson defended the trade in a series of tweets.

"The Pau trade" was a reference by Jackson to the Lakers' deal for Pau Gasol in 2008. The Lakers sent a package to Memphis that included Gasol's brother, Marc, in exchange for Pau and second-round draft pick. Pau Gasol helped the Lakers win two titles.

Marc Gasol is now a star in Memphis, one that Jackson will be coveting this summer as a free agent.

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