The Memphis Grizzlies have traded Chandler Parsons to the Atlanta Hawks for Miles Plumlee and Solomon Hill, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.
Parsons has been a long-running NBA soap opera since signing his four year, $94 million in the summer of 2016. Injuries have seen him rarely on the court, and when he has played, he has struggled mightily, posting 7.2 points per game.
Wojnarowski added in his report that Memphis and Parsons could not agree a buyout, as the Grizzlies wanted a significant discount. Parsons will join the Hawks with a chance to earn a roster spot, but Atlanta are open to buying him out if others show interest.
There was a period last season when Parsons was banished from the Grizzlies after conflict with the team. He returned for the closing weeks of the season, however.
Hill and Plumlee are also on expiring deals which equal roughly the same as Parsons for the 2019/20 season. The Hawks gain an open roster spot from this trade, while Memphis finally end a turbulent Persons era.
Amid all the superstar excitement and reconstruction of contending rosters, this trade has been met with an overwhelming shoulder shrug from the NBA world. Zach Lowe tweeted, saying it is ‘immediately in the running for most depressing trade of the summer’. It’s hard to disagree.
It’s nice for Memphis to end the Parsons era. It has been a nightmare from start to finish, and they can look forward to watching the exciting young talents of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. For the Hawks, it’s hard to care too much about this, though they have basically earned themselves a free dice roll with Parsons if he can stay healthy.
It’s a forgettable trade. It sort of makes sense, but it’s also a deal that doesn’t really change anything for Atlanta or Memphis. No one would’ve been too bothered if this didn’t happen.