Chandler Parsons' days as recruiter go back further than you think
Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons' value to any NBA organization has multiple layers. On the surface, he's an above-average wing who can handle the ball, shoot 3s, finish at the rim and thrive within almost any lineup combination.
But where Parsons really earns his money is as a franchise-altering recruiter. He made his name a few years ago with the Houston Rockets, when he convinced Dwight Howard to join him in Texas and leave the Los Angeles Lakers.
After he joined the Dallas Mavericks, Parsons nearly pulled off the same trick with Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, but we all know how that one eventually turned out. So it turns out Parsons was born to mobilize basketball programs. Here's what his college coach and current Oklahoma City Thunder coach, Billy Donovan, had to say about it:
Chandler Parsons has a reputation around the league as an ace recruiter. Was he one in college too? Billy Donovan: pic.twitter.com/HD5KNZAEft
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 24, 2016
Parsons the player is battling through an injury-plagued season, but still shooting a career-high 48.8 percent from the floor and 41.3 percent behind the 3-point line. In all likelihood, the 27-year-old will opt out of his current contract and hit the open market this summer.
Finally, he'll know how it feels to be the hunted instead of the hunter.
