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DALLAS -- Tyson Chandler says he doesn’t spend any time thinking about the New York Knicks. He’s fully focused on the Dallas Mavericks at this point. But when he does think about New York, Chandler is left with a sense of disappointment. “Anytime you put the type of talent that we put on the floor and you have the opportunity to really contend, it’s a loss,” Chandler said. “There’s not many times when you’re going to be on a roster that can truly say that they can contend for a title when you just look at it on paper. So anytime you waste -- I don’t want to say waste -- but anytime you don’t succeed in those years, it’s a little disappointing.”  Chandler had no reason to be disappointed on Wednesday. His 17 points and NBA season-high 25 rebounds lifted Dallas to an overtime win over the Knicks.
The NBA season is 82 games long. So judging a trade after just 16 games is a mistake. But if you use Wednesday’s game as a snapshot, Dallas got the better end of the Chandler deal. Chandler was dominant on Wednesday night. He had 10 offensive rebounds and two key baskets in overtime to help the Mavericks to a home win. Jose Calderon, who was part of the Chandler trade, had his best game as a Knick (21 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 7 3-pointers). But New York was missing an inside presence -- a presence Chandler once provided. The Knicks were outscored 50-24 in the paint on Wednesday in their first full game without Carmelo Anthony (back spasms). “We had our opportunities,” Derek Fisher said after the Knicks fell to 4-12. “That’s all you can ask for.” After the game, Chandler took the high road instead of taking any shots at the Knicks. He said Phil Jackson didn’t contact him before or after the trade, but he wasn’t upset over it. “I just don’t think I was in the future plans to be honest. With new management coming in, they have a different idea, a different vision,” Chandler said. “It’s not personal. If they want a certain personnel that they feel like that they want to build with for the future I completely understand that.” Jackson said he made the trade, which included Raymond Felton, to improve the Knicks' chemistry. Chandler took offense to that comment. Earlier this week, he said he felt like he’d been made the scapegoat at times in New York. “I definitely wish we’d have been more successful. Last season was horrible,” he said. “I think we all understood that. So things ended on a bitter note regardless.” It's been all roses for Chandler so far in Dallas this season. It's hard to say the same for Calderon and the Knicks. Question: Do you think the Knicks won the Chandler trade? Or did Dallas get the better end of the deal? You can follow Ian Begley on Twitter.
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