Memphis Grizzlies: Chandler Parsons, Pinewood Superstar

David Fizdale announced that Chandler Parsons is coming off the bench. While it suits his remote style, what does this mean for the Memphis Grizzlies?

Simply put, this means that Chandler Parsons will be best used for the Memphis Grizzlies in spurts. Instead of boosting the starting lineup, Parsons will be anchoring the second lineup with his shooting ability and ball movement. We have yet to really see a Parsons emergence in Memphis, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

(side note: I do not agree with his trip to L.A. while his team was in the playoffs. I’m not amused by his social media antics outside of ones messing with Blake Griffin, and I especially would not call myself of fan of his. I think he is overpaid and do not care to see him succeed in Memphis. Truthfully, I feel bad for Grizzlies fans who put so much hope into him being the third wheel Mike Conley and Marc Gasol needed to propel them to a deeper playoff push.

While I have no room to talk, being a college dropout trying to make a living covering the very players I rip apart daily, I want to be clear that I appreciate the work these players go through to make the NBA mean something, even to a jackass like me.)

With all this in mind, compared to other players, Parson ranks fairly low in importance to the team’s success. After pulling the plug early on his first season, the Grizzlies locked down a playoff position and added firepower to their stagnant offense. With or without Parsons, the Grizzlies’ offense improved from last year.

Parsons struggled last year, but that can be blamed on playing through pain while easing into a new town and schemes. The only problem was, there were few promising signs that came from his performances. With the new development in his role, Grizzlies fans should expect to see Parsons for around twenty minutes a game, more if he starts to find his rhythm. Adding scorers like Tyreke Evans and Ben McLemore will act as a Chandler Parsons’ insurance policy.

Now that the Grizzlies do have option — albeit limited — this will open Parson’s game. He’ll be given more space and room to get to his spot and play with confidence. When he took the court, he looked flustered and annoyed that he wasn’t making shots. When he starts to lose the small hesitation he has when playing, Parsons might prove some people wrong.

This isn’t saying he’s going to make a run at any award, but he might do one better. He might get the Grizzlies to the playoffs, which will give a crop of young Memphis stars quality playoff exposure in arguably the conference’s most competitive season this side of the 2000s.