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Memphis Grizzlies announce Chandler Parsons has partially torn meniscus

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 26, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons (25) stretches before the game against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons (25) stretches before the game against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Memphis Grizzlies have announced that small forward Chandler Parsons is out indefinitely with a partially torn meniscus.

A rough year for small forward Chandler Parsons got a little rougher on Monday, and could actually end his 2016-17 season halfway through March.

As announced by the Memphis Grizzlies, the team’s marquee offseason addition is dealing with a partially torn meniscus in his left knee and is out indefinitely. The Grizz will keep him sidelined as they weigh their options moving forward.

"“To suffer a setback like this after working so diligently to rebound from the injury to his right knee is obviously tough,” general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. “That said, we know he will continue to work tirelessly to return to the court with his teammates and contribute. Chandler has the full support of myself, Coach Fizz and the entire team and we are all focused on getting him healthy.”"

This is obviously a blow to the Grizzlies, especially after they dished out a massive four-year, $94 million contract to Parsons last summer in an attempt to breathe new life into the team’s Grit-N-Grind core of Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

Unfortunately for Memphis, the 28-year-old wing has been unable to stay healthy long enough to make good on his gaudy new contract, playing in just 34 games on the season. In that time, he’s averaged an underwhelming 6.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game, shooting a putrid 33.8 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from long range.

Those numbers are a far cry from the career-high 16.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game he posted in 2013-14, his final season with the Houston Rockets. Since then, Parsons has gone from 74 games played to 66 to 61 to 34 this season, dealing with a myriad of knee injuries along the way. Less than a year ago in March, he was ruled out for the rest of the 2015-16 season with a torn right meniscus.

Instead of being the piece to elevate Memphis closer to contention for the Western Conference crown, Parsons has been a major disappointment, even without factoring in the team’s massive investment.

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Here’s hoping Parsons can return healthy from his latest knee injury, but as of right now it’s looking like the aging Grizzlies — who have stumbled to a 14-16 record since the start of 2017 — may miss out on this core reaching its fullest potential together.

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