Dallas Mavericks: Parsons’ Injury Impacts Regular Season, Summer Plans

Chandler Parsons’ latest injury is going to impact the Dallas Mavericks in terms of playoff hopes and plans for the nearing free agency period.

It seemed like the Dallas Mavericks had finally gotten their starting small forward back on track after a slow start to the season. His knee injury last year had called for a serious procedure during the summer, which kept him out for a couple of games at the beginning of the 2015-16 campaign.

However, since the start of 2016, Chandler Parsons had been averaging 17.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Those numbers were right on par with his normal averages and he looked like a better player as he was shooting the ball more effectively and producing like the playmaker the Mavs need on their team.

Back on Mar. 18, against the Golden State Warriors, Parsons left mid-game due to an injured right hamstring. A few days later, it was determined that he would most likely be undergoing season-ending surgery for a torn meniscus, serving as his second major knee surgery in as many seasons in Dallas.

As expected, a situation like this creates issues for the future.

On the rest of the season for the Mavs…

As if things couldn’t have gotten any harder for a team that has nearly fallen out of the playoff race altogether, the Mavs are now without one of their primary scoring options.

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Going forward, expect to see a lot of small-ball for the Mavs as one of their most versatile players will not be in the lineup. As for a starting replacement, Raymond Felton has been popular and Salah Mejri has even gotten a chance.

For a team that is just 0.5 games up on the ninth-place Utah Jazz, the Mavs are going to have to dig deep, and the road will not be easy as their upcoming schedule includes matches against the Warriors, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers and finally, on the last night of the season, the San Antonio Spurs.

Making the playoffs likely means the Mavs would be playing either the Warriors or the Spurs in the first round while missing it would mean losing an even more valuable draft pick to the Boston Celtics since it is top-seven protected.

Either way, there isn’t much hope for the team. That’s why they have been fighting so hard to gain ground on the sixth seed in an attempt to get a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which is way better than playing one of the two greatest teams of all-time.

On free agency for the Mavs…

Free agency just got a lot more serious for the team. Had Parsons stayed healthy and finished out the season, he would’ve at least been one bright spot, in terms of the future, that a superstar player could’ve looked at. Now, with another injury, the question arises as to if he can be depended on season after season.

According to ESPN.com, Parsons had dinner with Mark Cuban and Rick Carlisle the night that the news broke, basically ensuring that even if he opts out, the Mavs are still going to go hard to keep him.

The thought then turns to how beneficial he could be to the team should he continue to have knee issues and miss time every season. Last year, and now this year, the Mavs have lost one of their most valuable players and just like in 2014-15, that is going to impact their finish this season.

On free agency for Parsons…

As stated above, it’s obvious that the Mavs are going to be the top suitor for Parsons this summer should he opt out of his contract, but how is a new injury going to impact his payday?

The short answer to that question is that it won’t. If the Mavs decided not to give him a max contract, then another player-hungry team, like the Los Angeles Lakers, probably would. Ultimately, the Mavs are probably going to offer him the max, or close to it, because they still believe he can be a huge piece for them in the future.

But what happens when he goes down with another injury and you’re left without one of your max contract players for what could be a long period of time?

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It’s obvious that losing Chandler Parsons is going to play a lot into how the Dallas Mavericks finish their season. However, the team is going to have to think long and hard before dishing out another max contract.