Mavericks' Parsons putting ball on the floor, still aiming for opening night return

After a summer spent rehabbing his right knee following a surgery that may or may not have been of the microfracture variety, Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons is finally back on the court taking part in basketball-related activities.

The 26-year-old has begun training exercises with the ball, as he told Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com. He's also aiming to return to action for opening night on Oct. 28, when the Mavericks begin their season on the road against the Phoenix Suns.

Parsons was ruled out for the remainder of the season on April 22, missing all but Dallas' first postseason game in the opening round against the Houston Rockets, when he dropped 10 points in 36 minutes of action.

He had been been putting up jumpers for the past couple of weeks, but Tuesday was the first day he was cleared to do anything beyond that, which head coach Rick Carlisle noted to Mavs.com's Bobby Karalla.

Parsons told campers at a Mavericks Fantasy Camp that he's "feeling great," which should bode well for his chances of meeting the deadline he's set for himself.

In his first season with the franchise, Parsons averaged 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 66 games, shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 38 percent from behind the arc. He has two years and a little more than $31 million left on his contract, along with a player option for the 2016-17 campaign.