If you’re not up to speed on the latest in the Chandler Parsons saga, here’s an update.
The newly acquired Dallas Mavericks forward had a relatively tenuous three-day stretch during free agency while he waited for the Houston Rockets to decide if they were going to match the offer sheet he received from Mavs GM Donnie Nelson and owner Mark Cuban.
Houston was, of course, waiting for Chris Bosh to make a decision on the four-year max contract that they put on the table. When Bosh, instead, chose to accept a five-year max contract to stay in Miami, GM Daryl Morey opted to sign Washington Wizards free agent forward Trevor Ariza, all but rendering Parsons expendable.
Since, both Rockets center Dwight Howard and guard James Harden have chosen to distance themselves from, if not totally belittle, Parsons.
Howard spoke to the Associated Press downplaying the significance of Parsons’ departure:
It won’t affect us at all. We have myself and James. We have the best center and the best two guard in the game on the same team. It’s on us.”
Harden, who is in the Philippines, took things a step further when speaking to the Philipino Star:
Dwight [Howard] and I are the cornerstones of the Rockets. The rest of the guys are role players or pieces that complete our team. We’ve lost some pieces and added some pieces. I think we’ll be fine next season.”
Strong words considering that Parsons averaged 16.6 points last season, just 1.7 less than Howard, the league’s “best center.” The Mavericks new small forward seems to have responded, in kind, on Twitter.
Think before you speak.
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) July 24, 2014
At only 25-years-old, Parsons still has plenty of room to grow, and playing under head coach Rick Carlisle, he’s sure to get the opportunity. The Dallas coach is fond of his new forward’s versatility, and has said that he intends to utilize him everywhere from 1-through-4.
I think he can play the 3, 4, 1 and 2. He can do a lot of different things. He can facilitate, he can drive it, he can shoot it and he and he can defend a lot of different positions. It’s a really good fit for us.”
Considering Carlisle’s plan for Parsons and how his young forward has continued to increase his productivity in each of his first three seasons, it seems fair to assume that he’ll only get better in 2014-15. The question remains, how much better?
Given this recent development, it will be quite interesting to see where the NBA elects to schedule the first matchup between the two Texas teams, not just in location, but also on the calendar. An opening day game between the two might be a marquee game for the season’s start. Any meeting between the two is bound to be considered for national television.
As of right now, Parsons is likely itching to for the opportunity to prove himself to his former teammates and Rockets GM Daryl Morey.
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Michael Brumagin writes the Tweet of the Day for SheridanHoops.com and is also a correspondent for BleacherReport.com. Follow @mbrumagin