"Tyson Chandler admitted Tuesday that the Dallas Mavericks showed faith in him when many teams did not.

The Mavericks acquired Chandler in a five-player swap with the Charlotte Bobcats last July. Charlotte was looking for cap space and the Mavericks were trying to add an athletic defensive presence.

Both teams succeeded. While the Mavs gave up Eduardo Najera , Matt Carroll and Erick Dampier, they acquired a 27-year-old center that never played more than 51 games the two previous seasons because of injuries.

Those injuries didn't play a role this year. Chandler saw time in 74 regular season contests before starting every postseason game en route to an NBA title.

"Tyson, to me, turned everything around this summer when we signed him," Dirk Nowitzki said Tuesday. "I think he came off a two-year injury and we didn't really know what to expect. But looking back now, that was almost the key signing. His positive energy, his defense I think is really what turned this whole thing around and what really won us the playoffs. Every big game down the stretch we did it with defense."

Chandler, now 28, is a free agent this summer. He is one of several Mavericks that GM Donnie Nelson and owner Mark Cuban will have to ponder establishing a new deal with.

Chandler said Tuesday that he isn't thinking about the decision, instead, leaving negotiations in the hands of his agent and the Mavs front office.

"Obviously we'd like to get a deal done with Tyson and keep him for the long run," Nowitzki said. "I never played with a center that's as athletic and as quick and able to cover that much ground and play with his energy. He was a pleasure to play with.""