Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons is entering the second year of the three-year, $46.08MM deal that he signed with Dallas back in July of 2013. The upcoming campaign is a pivotal one for the 26-year-old who can opt out of his contract after this season and become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his professional career. Parsons’ first year in Dallas was marred by injury, as well as the team failing to live up to expectations in the wake of acquiring point guard Rajon Rondo from Boston back in December.
Parsons appeared in 66 contests for Dallas during the 2014/15 season, averaging 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 33.1 minutes per game. While those numbers aren’t terrible, they don’t quite measure up to the expectations that go along with the $15MM+ annual salary that Parsons receives, an amount that is more befitting a star player than the supporting role that Parsons has played thus far since arriving in Dallas.
This brings me to the question/topic of the day: Will Chandler Parsons’ performance ever live up to his contract, or will he be looked at as a mistake once his current deal runs its course?
It can certainly be argued that Parsons’ performance last season was impacted by switching teams and cities, though I was never a fan of the deal in the first place. I have always felt that Dallas overpaid for Parsons in an effort to damage the rival Rockets, and that his contract would hamper the Mavs’ efforts to rebuild. He has shown himself to be a valuable player, though I don’t ever see him evolving past his current ability level and production, which certainly would not justify Dallas’ expenditure for Parsons’ services … especially if he opts in for the 2016/17 campaign.
But what do you think? Do you believe that Parsons will live up to his contract, or are you dissatisfied with the return the Mavs franchise has received thus far, and remain pessimistic that Parsons will do much to improve? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.
There’s 33 guys in the NBA who will make more than Chandler Parsons this year. Here’s the list:
link to basketballinsiders.com
I think his performance has already lived up to the contract. He had a decent first year, he was vital to the (temporarily) successful recruitment of DeAndre Jordan, he’s coachable, he’s a good locker room presence, and he’s a hard worker.
Kobe Bryant and Joe Johnson will both make about $9M more this year than Chandler Parsons, and both will be less valuable.
If Parsons has a healthy season, he’s almost guaranteed to opt out, and wings are so scarce in next season’s FA class, he’ll receive four years with a raise on his annual rate. So to me, that’s evidence that he’s already lived up to his current deal – the reality that he could opt out next offseason and get a raise.
Preach
I agree with the points raised, JJ. I think salaries are so wild nowadays that expectations are not what they once were. Still, it’s a fair question given Parsons production. What raise do you see for him if he has a similar season to last year’s?
With the projected $20M jump in the cap and tons of contracts coming off the books league wide, there could be $500M spent next summer toward 2016-17 salaries alone – not even counting the remaining years on all those new deals. A few teams could have as much as $40-50M to spend just to reach the salary floor.
Also in Parsons favor is how scarce two-way wing players seem to be league wide. Lumbering centers are given away for no assets (Hibbert), and facilitating PGs can be picked up on cheap deals, but two-way wing players seems like the spot on the floor where demand far outpaces supply, because they can play in any lineup.
An elite team could play a lineup that plays Tony Allen or Roy Hibbert off the floor, because of their weaknesses. Parsons’ jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none game means there’s never a lineup where he’s unplayable. He can play with virtually any combination of players league wide, which opens him up to more FA suitors.
So next summer, Lebron and Durant will get maxed, Harrison Barnes and Terrence Ross are probably unavailable to other teams as RFAs…and then the only other viable FA starters at small forward are Parsons and Nic Batum.
Assuming good health for Parsons – a big if – I’d predict a four-year deal to return to Dallas for $80M.
Before last season, I thought he would live up to the deal pretty easily. Now I want to see how he looks when he gets back on the floor, healthwise. I personally think that if he is healthy, as well as if guys like Wes Matthews, Dirk, and Deron Williams are healthy, he could put up pretty good numbers, and as mentioned, he would likely opt out in that scenario. All of that being said, he needs to improve defensively