CrushAlot wrote:
The Houston Rockets plan to decline the fourth-year option on forward Chandler Parsons' contract, freeing him to become a restricted free agent this summer, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

The Rockets hold a $960,000 option on the fourth and final year of Parsons' contract for the 2014-'15 season, but want to avoid letting Parsons, 25, become an unrestricted free agent next summer. As a restricted free agent in July, the Rockets can match an offer sheet and retain Parsons on a long-term contract.

The Rockets have until June 30 to formally decline the option.

For the Rockets, there are two distinct advantages to letting Parsons into restricted free agency now. First, Houston is determined to clear the necessary salary cap space this summer to chase a third maximum contract free agent to join Dwight Howard and James Harden, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

Houston plans to pursue the major stars who could be available upon opting out of deals, including Miami's LeBron James and Chris Bosh, and New York's Carmelo Anthony, league sources said. Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki is expected to be a target too.

The Rockets are pursuing Minnesota's Kevin Love in trade talks too, and Parsons could hold sign-and-trade possibilities.

In one scenario, Houston could secure three max-out players – including Howard, Harden and a potential star free agent – and then re-sign Parsons to an extension below the max-level range. Parsons could command in the $12 million to $13 million annual range, league executives tell Yahoo Sports.

For Houston too, there's little motivation to let agent Dan Fegan get Parsons into the summer of 2015 as an unrestricted free agent. Rockets officials fear Fegan's ability to score Parsons a monster contract on the open market. This way, Houston declines the team option now, clearing the way for Parsons to get a bigger payday a year sooner than scheduled. Ultimately, this could be a better climate for Houston to negotiate an extension with Parsons.

Parsons has been one of the NBA's most underpaid players in his current deal, which was signed after Houston drafted him in the second round of the 2011 NBA draft. Parsons averaged 16.6 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Rockets this past season.

He played a significant part in the recruitment of Howard to the Rockets and has expressed a strong desire to remain with the franchise
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--rockets-will-decline-chandler-parsons--option-making-him-a-restricted-free-agent-022721563-nba.html

gunsnewing wrote:Yea I said a while ago I would resign Parsons for $12-15m

Wasn't there a rumour a few months ago that some team (Suns or Celtics) were going to offer Gordon Hayward a max contract? Their stats look roughly the same- who do people think is the better player? I haven't watched enough of them to make a judgement.

smackeddog wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:Yea I said a while ago I would resign Parsons for $12-15m

Wasn't there a rumour a few months ago that some team (Suns or Celtics) were going to offer Gordon Hayward a max contract? Their stats look roughly the same- who do people think is the better player? I haven't watched enough of them to make a judgement.

I think Gordon has more carry-the-load potential. I think I'd rather have Chandler in a supporting role.

The most beautiful thing Chandler does is cut off the ball. He begins his cut at full speed before he actually catches the ball. He is a disruptive force on offense, even without the ball, and I think he is the ideal running mate for a lightning fast PG (think Ty Lawson).

I think Gordon has chance to be The Guy on a team. I wouldn't give him the max if I was trying to recruit him to another team, but in the Jazz's case they might have to overpay a bit. Not so bad as they got a decent pick this year, as well as Trey Burke and Derrick Favors

jrodmc wrote:What suddenly happened to Parson's stock? I thought there was a thread a little while ago about Houston making him untouchable?

Once again:
Parsons - Lin - Asik for Melo. Straight up. Or maybe we even get Morey to part with a a pick. Or two? Yeah, dreaming in the summertime...
How bad does Morey or Alexander want that nasty Big Three?

I don't care how Melohate you are, two offensive maniacs and DHow make a pretty nice three.

I think they did this so they can match if someone makes him an offer and they don't risk losing him for nothing next year

SupremeCommander wrote:

smackeddog wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:Yea I said a while ago I would resign Parsons for $12-15m

Wasn't there a rumour a few months ago that some team (Suns or Celtics) were going to offer Gordon Hayward a max contract? Their stats look roughly the same- who do people think is the better player? I haven't watched enough of them to make a judgement.

I think Gordon has more carry-the-load potential. I think I'd rather have Chandler in a supporting role.

The most beautiful thing Chandler does is cut off the ball. He begins his cut at full speed before he actually catches the ball. He is a disruptive force on offense, even without the ball, and I think he is the ideal running mate for a lightning fast PG (think Ty Lawson).

I think Gordon has chance to be The Guy on a team. I wouldn't give him the max if I was trying to recruit him to another team, but in the Jazz's case they might have to overpay a bit. Not so bad as they got a decent pick this year, as well as Trey Burke and Derrick Favors

I disagree they both are supporting cast members but that's okay. Hayward is probably a worst shooter and they both have all around skill sets so I would bet on Parsons more.

I doubt either one are 10-12M players but may get that much, 7-10M seems better.

yellowboy90 wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:

smackeddog wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:Yea I said a while ago I would resign Parsons for $12-15m

Wasn't there a rumour a few months ago that some team (Suns or Celtics) were going to offer Gordon Hayward a max contract? Their stats look roughly the same- who do people think is the better player? I haven't watched enough of them to make a judgement.

I think Gordon has more carry-the-load potential. I think I'd rather have Chandler in a supporting role.

The most beautiful thing Chandler does is cut off the ball. He begins his cut at full speed before he actually catches the ball. He is a disruptive force on offense, even without the ball, and I think he is the ideal running mate for a lightning fast PG (think Ty Lawson).

I think Gordon has chance to be The Guy on a team. I wouldn't give him the max if I was trying to recruit him to another team, but in the Jazz's case they might have to overpay a bit. Not so bad as they got a decent pick this year, as well as Trey Burke and Derrick Favors

I disagree they both are supporting cast members but that's okay. Hayward is probably a worst shooter and they both have all around skill sets so I would bet on Parsons more.

I doubt either one are 10-12M players but may get that much, 7-10M seems better.

I don't think Gordon is The Guy - I just said that I like his chances a lot more to become The Guy more

smackeddog wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:

smackeddog wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:Yea I said a while ago I would resign Parsons for $12-15m

Wasn't there a rumour a few months ago that some team (Suns or Celtics) were going to offer Gordon Hayward a max contract? Their stats look roughly the same- who do people think is the better player? I haven't watched enough of them to make a judgement.

What do you guys think Deng will be able to pull in next season?

I think he'll get what the Bulls were offering before he got traded. That trade really hit his stock. Maybe he ends up in Dallas?

jrodmc wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:

jrodmc wrote:What suddenly happened to Parson's stock? I thought there was a thread a little while ago about Houston making him untouchable?

Once again:
Parsons - Lin - Asik for Melo. Straight up. Or maybe we even get Morey to part with a a pick. Or two? Yeah, dreaming in the summertime...
How bad does Morey or Alexander want that nasty Big Three?

I don't care how Melohate you are, two offensive maniacs and DHow make a pretty nice three.

I think they did this so they can match if someone makes him an offer and they don't risk losing him for nothing next year

So he's underpaid now, but they'll get to match some offer they can't afford to match in order to sign another max contract?
Hey! What if evil Emperor Dolanite gets Phil to pull a Lin Revenge move? LOL!

if only we had that type of cap space. I do look forward to the day when the front office has a chance to totally screw over Houston. It's times like this where I believe in escalation