The Houston Rockets are dealing with the possibility of missing out on all marquee free agents they pursued. Carmelo Anthony appears to be leaning towards the New York Knicks. LeBron James is reportedly going to Cleveland or Miami and Pau Gasol likes the San Antonio Spurs. That leaves the Houston Rockets shorthanded. With Chris Bosh waiting to make his future plans, the Rockets must turn their attention to Chandler Parsons and that offer sheet placed on him.
ESPN.com confirmed that Chandler Parsons has signed an offer sheet from the Dallas Mavericks to the tune of three years and $45 million. The forward was a restricted free agent with the Rockets and opted not to wait around to decide his future like most players are doing at the moment. Houston now has three days to match the offer or Parsons heads off to Dallas. NBA sources believe the contract consists of a player option after the second season, so Parsons has a chance to become an unrestricted free agent in 2016.
Houston now has a decision on their hands. The team is attempting to be patient and wait for Anthony or James, still believing they stand a chance at landing one of the players. They also have a pending max contract at the feet of Chris Bosh who is also waiting on everyone's decisions before making his. That patience could cost the Rockets a top young forward.
According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets have no plans of walking away from free agency empty handed. The team will push for Bosh who will likely sign if James does not return to Miami. If Houston lands Bosh, they will also match the offer on Parsons. However, Feigen writes that if the Rockets do not land Bosh, there is no guarantee they bring back Parsons. It appears to be an all or nothing approach for the Rockets.
Houston fans do not want to see Parsons leave. He is a strong young talent that has exceled in his role with the Rockets. His future, like many other players, rests in the decision of James and Anthony. The Rockets are also putting out feelers to second-tier free agents like Luol Deng, Trevor Ariza and Paul Pierce to determine their price tag so the team is really ready for any scenario they are possibly hit with.