The Chandler Parsons Situation Hurts, About to Sting

Chandler Parsons is set to sign a max contract and the Dallas Mavericks are nowhere to be found.

Six months ago, most people around the NBA saw it as a forgone conclusion that Parsons would receive a full max contract from Dallas. Since then, another season ending knee injury took place and Dallas was put out in the first round of the playoffs once again.

Then it was decision time in Dallas.

Max out Chandler Parsons or go after other big fish in free agency and risk losing him for nothing.

Dallas notably set their sights on Hassan Whiteside and Mike Conley, while Chandler Parsons took his meetings elsewhere to begin free agency. Thus spelling the end of Chandler Parsons’ time in Dallas.

Now, it looks like the scenario that was on the back of everyone’s minds in Dallas is playing out right before our eyes. After meeting with Dallas and Miami after midnight, Hassan Whiteside announced via SnapChat that he would be staying in Miami.

Then there was Nicolas Batum. Reports had come out of a meeting with Dallas set to take place in Dallas with Batum, but instead, the veteran forward agreed to a max contract with the Charlotte Hornets.

Mike Conley is set to meet with the Mavericks in the coming hours, but many people around the league feel that Memphis has the point guard “in the bag” on a max contract.

Dallas could very likely go 0-3 on their targeted big fish while watching their own in Chandler Parsons walk to another team. It’s one thing to lose out on free agents, but when you lose your own best free agent to chase the other top free agents, you have to come away with something.

That’s why the Chandler Parsons leaving news hurts…but it’s about to sting.

If Parsons ends up signing a max contract with the Los Angeles Lakers or Orlando Magic, it wouldn’t be THAT bad. He would join a bottom-of-the-league team in the West or an Eastern Conference team that has no effect on the Mavericks.

Instead, Parsons’ main two options at the moment could be devastating to the Mavs.

Parsons was reported to meet with a Portland brass featuring Damian Lillard, Terry Stotts, and owner Paul Allen at midnight in Los Angeles on Thursday night. Not only would joining last year’s 5th seed in the West hurt Dallas, but Portland’s plans don’t stop there.

If Portland could land Parsons AND Howard, to go with their star back court and supporting cast, we could be talking about Portland as a top three team in the West next season.

Either way, this would solidify another ELITE team in front of the Mavs in the standings.

Then there is the Memphis situation that includes the Mavericks top free agent target this season; Mike Conley.

The rest of the sentence is “in Memphis.” So while Dallas is trying to convince Mike Conley to leave Marc Gasol, the only franchise he has ever known, and a max contract, Memphis is trying to team Chandler Parsons in Memphis with the two.

With Parsons’s only two confirmed meetings being with Portland and now Memphis, it looks as if Parsons is set to join a franchise that will help push Dallas back in the standings.

If Conley AND Parsons land in Memphis with Marc Gasol, you would expect them to finish at least in the 5-6 range out West.

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So not only could Dallas watch Parsons leave after not landing any of the big fish they chased after in place of him, but he looks to join a team that will most assuredly push Dallas back in the standings.

This is why the Parsons news hurts…but it’s about to sting.