[SB Nation] How The Rockets Should Solve the Chandler Parsons Conundrum

Pay the man!!!

 

I don't think that's the question at all. Parsons is very likely to sign with the Rockets again either as an RFA or unrestricted. We'll have his Bird Rights in 2015 to offer him an attractive contract. If we can do that after a big FA pickup we can be significantly stronger instead of treading water. No one I see is saying we should drop Parsons; the argument is only about the timing of his next contract (and the risk that he refuses due to timing).

I see the choice as essentially this:

RFA Scenario: Very high chance of Parsons at a slightly-under-market price plus a second guy at MLE in 2014, a third guy at MLE in 2015, and a small chance to re-sign Lin and Asik.

or

FA Scenario: High chance of Parsons at a fair market value, plus a second high-dollar guy, but no MLE guy in 2014 nor in 2015 and no chance to re-sign Lin or Asik.

Since I think we sign Parsons in either scenario and we realistically lose Asik in either scenario, I compare the value of one high-dollar guy to 2 MLE players and possibly Lin. I think going for the high-dollar guy is a bigger gamble -- win the gamble and you're a contender, lose and you've screwed up the Harden/Howard era. Taking the MLE players is the safer route but I don't know if that ever gets you over the hump.

 

Does Morey wanna sign another guy with a 4-year contract - he's been keeping them at 3, unless for the top players. Isn't this why Dragic left? So it also depends if Parsons wants a 4-year deal (or if Morey thinks so).

If Morey thinks Parsons would demand a 4-year deal and getting a top guy is still the plan, then he would probably take the risk in 2015.