Chandler Parsons: Rockets told me they would match contract
By Sam Richmond
Chandler Parsons is a Dallas Maverick, thanks to the Houston Rockets’ decision not to match the three-year, $46 million deal Mark Cuban and Co. offered the 25-year-old.
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If Parsons is surprised by Houston not matching, no one could really blame him, as Parsons claims the Rockets told him they planned on doing so at the start of free agency.
From an appearance on The Afternoon Show with Cowlishaw and Mosley on KESN-FM 103.3 (transcribed by The Dallas Morning News):
"Before this whole process started, they had told me ‘You’ve earned this. You deserve this. Go and sign the best deal for your career. Just know in the back of your mind that we plan on matching.’ Throughout the process, I definitely thought they were gonna match the contract."
Before we all jump on the Rockets for misleading Parsons, it’s worth noting that the sharpshooter did add that his agent and Cuban “put together a tough contract for them to be able to match.”
Houston likely believed that they would match a deal for Parsons when they spoke with him, not expecting a team would offer him a contract that would exceed $15 million annually. Parsons is making “NBA star” money and the Rockets understandably don’t view him as a player of that caliber.
Despite a sour ending, Parsons praised his former organization.
"In all honesty, I have nothing but respect and love for them.(…)I’ve had nothing but great memories there. The entire organization, the fans in Houston were great for me. They believed in me initially and took a chance on me. I wish them nothing but the best."
Parsons averaged 16.6 points and 5.5 rebounds this past season.