Tyson Chandler agrees to contract with Suns

Sam Amick | USA TODAY Sports

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Veteran center Tyson Chandler has agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with the Phoenix Suns, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because deals can't signed until the free agency moratorium lifts on July 9.

Chandler's decision could have a grave impact on the Los Angeles Clippers, who were hopeful that they could land him via sign-and-trade if their free agent center, DeAndre Jordan, chose to go to Dallas. Now, however, Chandler becomes a key character in the Suns' intriguing push to LaMarcus Aldridge.

According to a person with knowledge of the situation, Chandler attended the Suns' meeting with the former Portland Trailblazers big man in Los Angeles. The unexpected development, according to the person, certainly piqued Aldridge's interest and may have improved the chances of a team that was otherwise seen as a darkhorse to land him. The Suns agreed to terms with point guard Brandon Knight on a five-year, $70 million deal not long before their meeting with Aldridge as well.

The Suns don't have the salary cap space to sign Aldridge to anywhere near the maximum salary contract he's expecting, meaning general manager Ryan McDonough would certainly have to make moves to bring him board. That approach could certainly involve point guard Eric Bledsoe, who agreed to a five-year, $70 million extension in September but is seen as available by rival executives.

The notion of playing alongside Chandler is likely intriguing to Aldridge because of well-known affinity for playing at the power forward position as opposed to center. That was a point of contention during some of his time in Portland, where they eventually brought Robin Lopez aboard to play center and make Aldridge more comfortable. It likely remains an issue with each of the teams pursuing him now, as Aldridge has always tried to avoid playing at the center spot.

Aldridge met with the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets on Tuesday night, then met with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday before seeing the Suns. He is still expected to keep all of his free agency meetings, which still include the Mavericks, Toronto Raptors and the New York Knicks.

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