10 Retired Dallas Mavericks who would fit perfectly on today's team

4. Tyson Chandler

Back in November, Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison shared the type of player Dallas wants to trade for: someone who can bring physicality and rebounding. Until now, that has remained as merely a dream for the team.

But once upon a time, the Mavs had a guy who fit the bill in Tyson Chandler.

During his two one-year stints in Dallas, he was effective as a defensive anchor, rim-runner, and vocal leader. The first tenure saw the franchise secure the championship, thanks in part to the retired center patrolling the paint. The front office may have committed a massive mistake by not re-signing him in the 2012 offseason, as the squad lost its backbone on defense.

Chandler did return to Dallas for the 2014-15 season via trade to reunite with Dirk Nowitzki and J.J. Barea, although by then, the squad had already regressed from its title-contending status.

The former Defensive Player of the Year's fit with the Mavs today might be sketchy, especially since Dereck Lively II has already deservedly locked down the starting five. However, Chandler's role would likely involve backing up the outstanding rookie and serving as a mentor. Incidentally, his "perfect fit" mentorship of Lively II has helped the latter achieve success at a very young age.