NBA Rumors: The Memphis Grizzlies might be ready to move on from Chandler Parsons, who is heathy but not in the team’s immediate plans
Just a few years ago, Chandler Parsons was signed by the Memphis Grizzlies as the potential to be one of the final pieces of the puzzle for the team’s attempt at competing at the top of the Western Conference.
However, in year three of the contract, Parsons has only played in 73 games. To say that he’s been a disappointment for the Grizzlies would be a huge understatement. In his defense, the biggest reason why he hasn’t been able to live up to the max contract is because of injury.
Over the last few years he’s battled numerous ailments, including many knee injuries and tweaks. But now that he’s healthy, the Grizzlies have elected to leave him on the bench for a while.
Sources: Memphis forward Chandler Parsons has been cleared to play by the team's medical staff -- which expected him to make his return this past Friday in Sacramento -- but Grizzlies management has decided to make him a healthy-inactive for foreseeable future.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 24, 2018
It’s not clear if the Grizzlies will change their outlook on Parsons in a few weeks or in a month, but right now the team is prepared to move forward without him. Perhaps this is due to how the team has played without him, or the fact that they don’t want Parsons taking minutes away from one of their other young prospects.
Even beyond this season, Parsons still has one year left on his contract. It would be tough to find a trade partner for Parsons, if the team is willing and ready to move on from the forward. That’s almost impossible for the to pull off.
Short of Parsons and the Grizzlies agree to a buyout, Parsons is going to be on the team’s roster for the foreseeable future – whether the Grizzlies make him active or not.
Through the first 30-plus games of the season, the Grizzlies are 17-16 and have been up and down most of the year. At one point, they were in the top 5 of the Western Conference, but perhaps reality has set back in for the Grizzlies.