Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets sign-and-trade for Chandler Parsons won’t happen

Although the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks were engaged in sign-and-trade discussions involving Chandler Parsons, a deal will not happen, according to Sam Amick of USA Today Sports.

The Mavericks agreed to a contract with Parsons on Wednesday night that will pay the forward $46 million over three years. Parsons is a restricted free agent, which means the Rockets have 72 hours to match that contract from the moment they receive the offer sheet from Dallas.

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However, with the two teams discussing the sign-and-trade, Houston has just recently received the offer sheet.

It’s certainly worth considering the possibility that the Rockets were never interested in a deal, and that their primary motivation here was to delay them receiving the offer sheet.

Houston would have incentive to do that, considering their pursuit of Chris Bosh.

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle has the financial details at play here:

"If the Rockets reach agreement with Bosh on the max contract they have offered and can clear the cap room for him before they run out of time to match Parsons’ contract, they can sign Bosh into the cap room and then exceed the cap to keep their own player, Parsons.(…)If the Rockets match Parsons’ offer sheet before signing Bosh, they would exceed the salary cap and would be unable to sign Bosh."

So, by delaying the offer sheet being sent, Houston has bought itself more time to talk with Bosh and come to an agreement in time that allows the Rockets to sign him and retain Parsons.