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Well, hey! After a three year absence, Tyson Chandler's back in the Southwest.
The Mavericks, who immediately made reacquiring Chandler one of their priorities after their first-round playoff exit against San Antonio, have completed a trade with the Knicks that was clinched by agreeing to take back the contract of New York's out-of-favor guard Raymond Felton as well.
The trade cost Dallas two starters -- point guard Jose Calderon and center Samuel Dalembert -- along with prized young point guard Shane Larkin, reserve guard Wayne Ellington and the 34th and 51st picks in Thursday's draft.
It's a well-known name, sure, but is this a move with huge ramifications for this season? Probably not. It's worth noting that Chandler and the out-going Samuel Dalembert posted nearly identical PERs (16.4 vs 16.8), rebound rates (18.7 vs. 19.4), and offensive ratings (120 vs 117), with Dalembert also besting Chandler in steal percentage and block percentage. The out-going Shane Larkin didn't have a great rookie season, but he's a significantly more useful asset than Ray Felton.
After giving San Antonio a good series in the playoffs, Dallas perhaps believes a Dirk/Chandler core has one more title run left in them. 2011, though, was a perfect marriage of brilliant match-up specific defensive scheming, a league with many of its superstars in transition, and small sample playoff excellence; it's not happening again.