Chandler Parsons’ inaugural season with the Memphis Grizzlies is not unfolding according to plan.
He missed the start of the year while recovering from meniscus surgery on his right knee. Then, after a brief return, he missed more time with a bone bruise in his left knee.
Now Parsons is roughly two weeks into his second return attempt, and the Grizzlies are treating him with kid gloves. He has not played more than 16 minutes and change over his last six appearances, and head coach David Fizdale has point blank said Memphis is bringing him along slowly.
Patience is not a virtue of everyone outside the organization, though. Parsons signed a $94 million over the summer, and the investment, to this point, has been a bust.
But Parsons hopes all that will change by year’s end, per USA Today‘s Sam Amick:
“Social media is their outlet to talk (expletive) and be negative,” he said. “That’s the world of sports. Obviously I want to be playing 30, 35 minutes (per game), and I expect to be by the end of the season. And I have no doubt I can get back (to peak form).
“People said I couldn’t get back after the first microfracture, and I averaged 20 (points) and six (rebounds) for three months and played the best basketball of my life after the most serious surgery you can probably have as an NBA player. So obviously I enjoy the struggle right now, I enjoy getting back in shape and playing in games. It just makes the success that I’ll have that much sweeter.”
It’s tantalizing to think what a healthy Parsons can do for a Grizzlies outfit that’s contending for top-four playoff seeding mostly without him. He gives the rotation a stretchy forward, who can play either the 3 or the 4, and additional playmaking off the bounce. His defense can be suspect, particularly when he’s guarding opposing 3s, but the Grizzlies rank 23rd in offensive efficiency and 29th in effective field-goal percentage. They need the version of Parsons the Dallas Mavericks enjoyed before losing him for the rest of last season.
And if they get him, well, watch out.
