Looking to Deal Tyson Chandler, Hornets Lose Suns as a Trade Partner

This offseason has been one filled with disappointment and missed opportunities for the New Orleans Hornets, and more of that came on Tuesday. The Hornets currently have the third highest payroll in the NBA with $78.8 million committed to the players on the current roster—it was the highest payroll before the Los Angeles Lakers signed Ron Artest and the Boston Celtics signed Rasheed Wallace. With the luxury tax threshold being announced a few days ago at $69.9 million for next season, the Hornets would have to pay nearly $9 million in luxury tax because of the payroll being so high. Rumors have been afloat this entire offseason about who the Hornets could possibly trade center Tyson Chandler to and what they would get in return for the 7'1" center. The scenario that was most talked about around the NBA was sending Chandler to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Ben Wallace. This deal would work for the Hornets because it was widely speculated that Wallace intended to ret...