Hawks May Shut Down Turner, Parsons For Foreseeable Future

Veteran Hawks guard Evan Turner said today that Atlanta brass told him and his fellow graybeard, forward Chandler Parsons, that they will be inactive going forward while the 7-28 Hawks look to develop their youth, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (Twitter link).

Washburn considers Turner, on an expiring $18.6MM contract, a viable candidate for a buyout. Turner thrived as a bench off-guard for the Trail Blazers from the 2016/17 season through the 2018/19 season, and could provide a similar function for a high-level contender. He has only appeared in 18 games for Atlanta.

Parsons, however, has struggled to stay on the court since signing a four-year, $94MM deal with the Grizzlies in 2016. Injuries have limited the 31-year-old Florida alum to appearing in just 100 of a possible 363 games for Memphis and the Hawks. He may have very limited value to any team going forward, except as a big contract to make a transaction work. Parsons is earning $25.1MM this season, but has played in just five games.

As Dana Gauruder has noted previously on Hoops Rumors, both Hawks players’ expiring contracts number among options that could be thrown in to help complete a deal for a player on a large contract. Andre Drummond of the Pistons, currently making $27.1MM in the final guaranteed year of his contract, has been floated as a possible trade target for Atlanta. Drummond has a $28.8MM player option for the 2020/21 season.

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