Chandler Parsons, Memphis Grizzlies Agree To 4-Year Deal
Versatile small forward Chandler Parsons has agreed to sign a four-year deal to join the Memphis Grizzlies next season. Here are the details and what the agreement means for all parties involved.
Following a 2015-16 season marred by injuries, the Memphis Grizzlies came into the first day of the 2016 free agency period with a lot of work to do.
Their chief priority was re-signing veteran point guard Mike Conley, and the Grizzlies made a move Friday that went a long way in helping to retain the 28-year-old.
According to ESPN’s Tim McMahon, versatile small forward Chandler Parsons has agreed to join the Grizzlies next season on a four-year max deal worth a projected $94.8 million.
Source: Chandler Parsons has agreed to a four-year max deal with the Grizzlies.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 1, 2016
Parsons comes over following a two-year stint with the Dallas Mavericks that ended after Mark Cuban and company reportedly refused to offer the five-year veteran a max contract due to injuries that limited him to just 61 games last season.
The signing also comes in the wake of Parsons spurning a max deal offer from another Western Conference playoff team in the Portland Trail Blazers after meeting with them earlier in the day.
Parsons took to Twitter to announce his departure from Dallas and thank the Mavs organization Friday afternoon before confirming the news of his signing with Memphis alongside new head coach David Fizdale on Instagram:
I want to thank @mcuban , the entire staff, teammates and fans for everything the past 2 seasons. I love you and wish you the best of luck!
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) July 1, 2016
Parsons now heads to Memphis to provide consistency on the perimeter to a team that started seven different wing players last season. That instability can partially be attributed to midseason trades that saw versatile wing Jeff Green shipped to the Los Angeles Clippers and journeyman Courtney Lee moved to the Charlotte Hornets.
The veteran small forward will also add a solid three-point threat to the Grizzlies, who ranked second to last in three point-percentage last season. Parsons connected from deep at an impressive and career-high 41.4 percent clip.
But the icing on the cake for Grizzlies fans is that Conley was reportedly instrumental in luring Parsons to Blues City and has agreed to return on a five-year deal worth $153 million as a result, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein.
Memphis and Mike Conley have agreed in principle on a five-year, $153 million deal, league sources say. Finer points "nearing conclusion."
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2016
If this holds true, that means the Grizzlies’ starting backcourt now boasts the likes of Conley, Parsons and Mr. First Team All-Defense, Tony Allen. Pair that with an All-Star caliber center in Marc Gasol and a still solid Zach Randolph and you have a serious rebound and revamp for the Grit-N-Grind squad.
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Parsons is a Swiss Army Knife on offense capable of contributing in every category and providing an additional scoring punch on the perimeter alongside Conley, as his career average of 14.3 points per game indicates.
He can operate off ball as a spot-up shooter and can also serve as a point-forward when Conley moves to the bench. He’s also a solid rebounder from the small forward position with a career average of 5.1 boards a game.
With the addition of Parsons and the re-signing of Conley that came as a result, the Grizzlies have gotten the 2016 offseason off to a stupendous start and are well on their way to revamping the roster in a way that maintains the team’s competitiveness in a tough Western Conference.
For the Mavericks, this signing has a much more negative impact.
Mark Cuban’s team has now not only lost its starting small forward, but has also lost out on the opportunity to add a franchise point guard.
After ambitious hopes to start free agency, Dallas has once again swung and missed on their top targets, leaving them to either offer perennial franchise player Dirk Nowitzki a max deal or scramble to find remaining free agents enticing enough to get him to stay.
While an options like Harrison Barnes is still available, it will be hard for the Mavs to replace the offensive versatility and perimeter shooting that Parsons would have brought to the table.
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With the signing of Parsons, the Mavericks take a serious step back in the Western Conference and the Grizzlies re-up to maintain their status among the conference’s elite.