The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly interested in trading for Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler to improve the team's interior defense.

Portland currently has Mason Plumlee at starting center with Meyers Leonard as the primary backup. Although Plumlee is an effective post passer and pick-and-roll partner for point guard Damian Lillard, he is not known to be an elite rim protector. The same can be said on Leonard as well.

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A mediocre interior defense is said to be one of the many factors why the Blazers are right now stuck at the eighth place in the Western Conference standings with a 16-22 record.

ESPN indicated that Portland "has been tracking Tyson Chandler as a potential trade target" but the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year awardee is said to be keen on staying in Phoenix for the rest of his career.

CBS Sports reported that the Blazers want to acquire the 16-year veteran from the Suns to bring in defensive help. The team is now 28th in the league when it comes to points-allowed per game as the team lets their opponents to score 111.5 points every match while they are also dead last in defensive efficiency rating with 110.3.

The 34-year-old was a former player of current Blazers head coach Terry Stotts during their 2010-2011 championship season in Dallas, so it would be one advantage should the deal pushes through.

While a Chandler-to-Portland deal would be an ideal pairing for both player and coach, some analysts believe that it would only be a short-term solution to Portland's current defensive problems. With the former Dominguez high school standout already aging, he is no longer seen as a significant upgrade over Plumlee at the starting center position for the Blazers even with the team's current defensive woes.

Chandler is currently in the second year of his four-year, $52 million deal with Phoenix. His contract will expire in the summer of 2019 when he is already 36 years old. He is averaging 7.5 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks in 29 games so far this season.

TagsNBA Trade Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors 2017, Tyson Chandler, phoenix suns, Portland Trail Blazers