Thunder say N.O. to Chandlers toe jam

In the hours after the Oklahoma City Thunder stunningly voided their trade for New Orleans Hornets center Tyson Chandler, league executives questioned why the Thunder would give up on what appeared to be such a promising deal.
The weight of the trade, four league officials said, rested on Chandler’s left big toe. During Chandler’s physical, the Hornets’ medical staff, in consultation with outside doctors, raised concerns about a lingering turf-toe condition.
“It’s not going to end his career,” one source familiar with Chandler’s medical history said, “but it could hinder it.”
One of the reasons the Hornets wouldn’t have expected any complications with the trade was that Chandler had surgery on the toe in April 2007 when the Thunder’s team doctor, Carlan Yates, had been the Hornets’ doctor in Oklahoma City. The Hornets had reason to assume that Thunder management had thorough access to Chandler’s medical records.

Thunder GM Sam Presti, who would not discuss the specifics of why Chandler failed the team’s physical, said the team sought additional opinions from outside doctors before making its decision to rescind the trade.
“You try to take emotion out of the equation and make as objective a decision as possible,” Presti said by phone Wednesday night. “This was extremely disappointing for everyone involved.

Thunder strikes on Tyson Chandler

OKC Thunder gets the interior 7 footer they desperately needed in Tyson Chandler.

The Hornets received forwards Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox in exchange for their best interior defender.

ESPN.com reported early Monday that the Hornets -- who have been looking to move Chandler mostly for financial reasons -- were in talks with the Thunder on a trade that would net the expiring contracts of Smith and Wilcox. Thunder general manager Sam Presti is a long-time admirer of Chandler dating to his time with the San Antonio Spurs.
The Thunder also possess numerous draft picks to sweeten trade packages -- including five first-round picks in the next two drafts -- but Presti was able to land an accomplished center to complement his promising young trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green without surrendering any major draft considerations.
With a payroll at nearly $67 million this season and scheduled to reach almost $77 million next season, New Orleans felt it had to part with Chandler before Thursday's 3 p.m. trading deadline regardless, even though dealing away the 26-year-old almost certainly takes the Hornets out of serious playoff contention in the West.

As fast as Russell Westbrook developed at UCLA, going from lightly recruited prep prospect to No. 4 pick in the draft in two seasons, he may be doing it again in the NBA. This guy is an animal and gets better by the minute. He says he is ready to compete in the 2009 NBA Dunk contest.

Good Luck, Russell we wish you continued success throughout your career!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkkglUnYf_Mwatch?v=mkkglUnYf_M