The Memphis Grizzlies and forward Chandler Parsons have mutually agreed to part ways, according to an official team announcement. The forward is continuing his rehab from being diagnosed with right knee soreness, but has been medically-cleared since December 21st. The Grizzlies wanted Parsons to play in several G League games, through his path back to the NBA roster was not made clear enough. As a result, the 30-year-old will no longer be with the team as the front office attempts to work out a trade according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon.
Statement from @memgrizz General Manager Chris Wallace: pic.twitter.com/YscKdebBKP
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) January 7, 2019
Since signing with Memphis in 2016 Parsons has only been able to appear in 73 games, mostly due to knee issues. He has a per-game average of seven points in a Grizzlies uniform.
The troubling part of trying to move Chandler Parsons is that he is still owed a hefty sum of money. A salary of $25.1 million is due to him next year, a number that will be extremely cumbersome to maneuver without attaching an additional asset. ESPN notes that Memphis is not willing to pair a first-round pick with Parsons, but is more keen on taking on another long-term contract in return. The Grizzlies gauged the market on Parsons in the offseason, potentially pairing him with the fourth-overall pick in the NBA Draft.
Regardless of the outcome, the Chandler Parsons era in Memphis is all but over. To say it was a bumpy ride, would be an understatement.
