Report: Rockets will not match offer sheet, Chandler Parsons to become a Maverick
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Chandler Parsons is a Dallas Maverick.
The Houston Rockets have decided not to match the offer sheet the Mavericks signed Parsons to earlier in the week, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
The Rockets reportedly deemed the contract - valued at $46 million over three seasons, with a player opt-out after year two and a substantial trade kicker - "too constraining to future roster building," which is a fair enough stance. Basically, the team as constructed isn't a championship team, and paying Parsons that kind of money would prevent them from becoming one.
Just heard from @dmorey and Mr. Alexander. Nothing but utmost respect for them, the fans and city of Houston. THANK YOU for your support!
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) July 13, 2014
It remains possible that all sides could agree to scrap the offer sheet and then see Parsons land in Dallas via a sign-and-trade, according to ESPN's Marc Stein. (UPDATE: That's no longer on the table.)
Having moved preemptively, the Rockets have already signed Trevor Ariza as a replacement at the three, at half the cost. Still, losing Parsons, a good, young player and a solid fit for the roster, hurts a great deal.
It also calls into great question the franchise's decision to decline their 2014-15 team option on him, one that would have paid him just a shade under $1 million. The risk in picking it up was that Parsons could walk as an unrestricted free agent next summer, and the team determined that retaining the right to match any offers was worth pulling ahead the time at which he got paid.
They obviously didn't anticipate Parsons receiving an offer this substantial, and they probably also didn't expect to miss out on Chris Bosh (at which point, retaining Parsons at this price would have made more sense). After rolling the dice on their ability to add a star this summer, they'll now roll the dice on their ability to land one later with room Parsons otherwise would have tied up.
The Mavericks now get their man, and while the cost is appreciable, he fills a hole on the wing and should further the Mavs as a really fun team on offense. if he continues to improve at age 25, he could help push the Mavericks beyond the first round of the playoffs, even if he may never elevate to All-Star status in the West.