Report: Rockets plan to decline Chandler Parsons’ option

By Mike Pendleton
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Updated: June 3, 2014

Either the Houston Rockets are ready to make a big splash this off-season like last year with Dwight Howard, or they’re ready to see how much their guy is worth. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported late Tuesday night that the Rockets are planning to decline the option on forward Chandler Parsons, making him a restricted free agent.

Restricted, so Parsons can talk with any team and sign any offer, but any offer can be matched by the Rockets if they choose to do so.

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.

Also according to Wojnarowski, you can pretty much consider the Rockets as a team in play for every possible free agent this summer, from LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, to even Dirk Nowitzki, and the possibility of a sign-and-trade to get Kevin Love.

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 Howardand 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.

Parsons was one of the main players who helped recruit Dwight Howard to Houston and has been vastly underpaid for the past two seasons. While the declining of the option seems that every team will come calling now to possibly overpay for Parsons, he’s made it known he wants to remain in Houston.

Parsons averaged 16 points and 5 rebounds per game this past season.

Follow Mike Pendleton on Twitter @MP2310

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