ESPN and Bleacher Report have reported this morning that Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons will miss the remainder of the season with a torn right meniscus. This injury will require surgery. For the Mavericks and Parsons, this injury could not be coming at a worse time.
This season, Parsons was averaging 13.7 points a game and 4.7 rebounds a game. Although his numbers may not show it, he was vital to the Mavericks offense.
Ever since he arrived in Dallas, Parsons has really been hit with the injury bug. Last season, he had to miss the playoff series against the Houston Rockets with a re-aggravated leg injury. This summer, Parsons was expected to opt out of the final year of his contract and test the free agent market. It now makes sense for him to opt into the final year and become a free agent in 2017. Not many teams will be interested in a player who is coming off a torn meniscus and two injury-ridden seasons.
For the Mavericks as a whole, their chances of making the playoffs have taken a hit. This is a veteran team, but Parsons was one of the young guys who was fresher and could produce in the playoffs. The Mavericks are currently the eight seed in the Western Conference. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games, which is a cause for concern. The Utah Jazz has seemed to find their rhythm again and is one game behind the Mavericks at 34-36. The Jazz might have just become the favorites to land the final playoff spot now with the injury to Parsons.
With the injury to Parsons, a lot of pressure will now be on Wesley Matthews. He will need to find his rhythm from his Portland days very quick if the Mavericks want to make the playoffs. The Mavericks are an experienced team with one of the best coaches in the association. Rick Carlisle will put the team in the best situation possible to keep the final playoff spot.
