Dallas Mavericks: Is Chandler Parsons the Best Option?

The Dallas Mavericks face many difficult situations this offseason, including what to do with our hopeful All-Star, Chandler Parsons.

The Dallas Mavericks get an unfortunate early jump on the free agency period, but it may be a blessing in disguise. As the NBA playoffs ramp up, we draw ever nearer to one of the most important off-seasons in recent history for the Mavericks.

Many players will be walking away from the organization, some will be sorely missed, others we may be more happy than upset about. One question has been on the minds of every Mavericks fan for awhile now though. What are we going to do with Chandler Parsons?

Parsons signed a 3-year $46 million contract with the Mavericks with a player option in the final year. Reports and expectations all point to CP opting out of his deal and becoming a free agent this summer. For the first time in awhile, Mavs fans seem to be torn about what to do with this guy—keep him or let him go?

This offseason offers a lot of options at small forward, a position that nearly all the elite teams in the league are strong at. Some of the names that will be available this summer include Kevin Durant, Lebron James, Harrison Barnes, Chandler Parsons, and Nicolas Batum.

Obviously the Mavericks do not have a real shot at landing Durant or Lebron so that leaves us with three fairly realistic options.

I personally am a believer that Chandler Parsons is our best option at the small forward position this summer. With Harrison Barnes and Nicolas Batum likely due for a big pay raise, the Mavericks really are not going to save money on either of these other guys. Barnes is considered one of the highest potential players in the league while Batum is a veteran 3-D guy who may have found himself in a favorable situation with the Charlotte Hornets.

Chandler Parsons may not be the best of these three players (although I personally believe he is far better offensively than each of them). He may not be the cheapest option of the three. But those opposed to bringing him back tend to forget two things.

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Number 1: Dallas is not a big name free agent destination. We have never been able to land the  big names or max contract players in the franchise history. The sad truth is that we need someone that can score the ball at an above average rate or we are going to be rebuilding for years to come. Chandler Parsons fits that bill.

Number 2: Dirk Nowitzki has said time and time again that he will not play for a rebuilding team. If we swing for another big name player and miss out on both that player and Parsons, we may be immediately forced into the bottom feeders of the west and risk losing Dirk at the end of his illustrious career. Without a big name that can take some of the load off of Dirk, we may lose the greatest Maverick to ever play the game.

Next: Dallas Mavericks: Best Role Player This Season

For these reasons, I think that we have been forced into a tough situation but the moves we must make are clear. Look forward to more craziness this offseason for the Dallas Mavericks and league-wide.