LOS ANGELES _ Tyson Chandler is officially a Laker.
The veteran center signed with the Lakers on Tuesday, after the 48-hour period during which a team could have claimed him off waivers passed. Chandler was waived after he reached a buyout agreement with the Phoenix Suns. He was owed $13.5 million in the final year of a four-year contract.
Chandler adds depth at center, a position at which they have desperately needed it. Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka created a roster this summer with only one center who had much experience: JaVale McGee, who is in his 11th season and has filled the position for a majority of the minutes this season.
To back him up, coach Luke Walton mostly has used smaller players like Kyle Kuzma, LeBron James, Johnathan Williams and Michael Beasley. ?The Lakers drafted 6-foot-11 Moe Wagner with the 25th pick in June, but he hasn't been ready to truly contribute due to injury and inexperience. Seven-foot-1 Ivica Zubac also lacks experience because the Lakers played him sparingly in his first two seasons.
"Having observed our roster for the first 10 games of this young season, one of the areas that Earvin and I discussed with Luke that we desired to upgrade is interior defense and rebounding," Pelinka said in a statement. "In Tyson Chandler we addressed that need, and so much more. We are excited that Tyson will bring championship-level experience to our Lakers team."
Chandler, 36, won a championship with Dallas in 2011 and has averaged 9.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in his 18-year career. Last season the Lakers primarily used Brook Lopez and Julius Randle as centers, but they chose to not re-sign either player.
