Chandler Parsons to make Memphis Grizzlies’ debut next Tuesday night
The Memphis Grizzlies made a big investment in Chandler Parsons over the summer, and they will start to get a return on it very soon.
Entering their game against the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night, the Memphis Grizzlies are 3-2 on the young season under new head coach David Fizdale. To this point they’ve not had forward Chandler Parsons available, as he works his way back from right knee surgery, but the Grizzlies are set to get their biggest free agent acquisition on the floor soon.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Parsons will make his 2016-17 season debut next Tuesday night against the Denver Nuggets:
Sources: Chandler Parsons will make his Grizzlies debut on Tuesday against the Nuggets. https://t.co/002rhWwqC6
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) November 4, 2016
Memphis is trying to transition away from a slower offensive pace, centered around Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Parsons fits that plan, as an athletic 6-foot-10 combo forward that can handle the ball and shoot.
But the Grizzlies took a significant risk by signing him to a four-year, $94 million deal in July, with surgeries on his right knee prematurely ending each of Parsons’ last two seasons.
Parsons missed 37 games over two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, and he has played less than 70 games in three of his five NBA seasons.
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However, he was putting together the best stretch of his career prior to re-injuring his knee last season, averaging 18.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting just under 52 percent from the floor and 47.7 percent from beyond the arc over his final 27 games. Fizdale and the Grizzlies are surely hoping to see that kind of production again at some point.
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Assuming he remains on track to play next Tuesday night, Parsons will miss just two more games counting Friday night’s contest. He is sure to be eased back into action, but having Parsons and his versatile skill set on the floor in any capacity is good news for Memphis.