Tyson Chandler: 'I didn’t think Carmelo was ever leaving New York'

Tyson Chandler admits that he was disappointed by the lack of success the New York Knicks achieved with he, Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire. But that didn't stop him from trying to recruit Anthony to the Mavericks after he was traded to Dallas in June.

Unfortunately for the Mavs, and other potential 'Melo suitors, Chandler doesn't believe Anthony was ever serious about leaving New York.

“I didn’t ever think he was coming," Chandler told the Washington Post's Michael Lee. "I didn’t think Carmelo was ever leaving New York. I talked to him because it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t. But I never thought he was going anywhere."

Chandler believes the Los Angeles Lakers were the one team that had a chance to lure Anthony away from New York. "I thought if anywhere he was going it was to the Lakers," Chandler said. "But when the Lakers didn’t have a strong enough roster to tempt him.”

The Lakers were expected to be among the most serious suitors for Anthony and other big-name free agents this summer, but the team was coming off a 27-55 season - the worst campaign since the franchise moved to L.A. in 1960.

Anthony said in July that although he was tempted by the Lakers, it "was pretty much always Chicago or New York."