Chandler Parsons’ first season with the Memphis Grizzlies hardly could’ve gone any worse. After signing a four-year, $94 million deal in free agency, Parsons proceeded to play in just 34 games, averaging career-worst numbers of 6.2 points on 34 percent shooting with 2.5 rebounds in 20 minutes per game.
Parsons’ poor play was largely due to the knee injuries which have also dogged him in the past few years. The 28-year-old has been hard at work this summer on getting his body ready for this season, though, and tells ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that the difference in his workouts from last year to this year has been “night and day.”
“I dedicated my entire summer to my body,” Parsons says. “I can't even really compare it to last year because it's night and day how my body feels, the kind of shape I'm in. I'm lean. I'm playing 5-on-5, one-on-one, 2-on-2, 3-on-3. Working out five times a week. I'm doing stuff now that basically I couldn't even do throughout the season last year. It's completely different.”
The fact that Chandler Parsons finally feels healthy enough to work out as much as he has been this offseason should be promising news for the Grizzlies, who need to get something out of him this season. Memphis needs to find more offense with Zach Randolph no longer with the team, and a healthy Parsons can help provide that with his shooting and playmaking along the perimeter.
It remains to be seen how long Parsons’ knees will be able to hold up, though. He has missed an average of 28 games over the last three seasons due to various knee problems. But if he can manage to remain on the court this season, he should significantly help the Grizzlies' questionable depth on the wing.
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