Chandler Parsons might be in some hot water with the NBA.
The Dallas forward made it clear on Tuesday, that he’d be down playing with former Houston Rockets teammate Dwight Howard again, suggesting he come to the Mavericks.
“I think he can still dominate the game,” Parsons told Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com. “I think he can still be a great player in this league. And I think he’s going to leave Houston, so why not come here?”
While it’s great Parsons wants Howard back on his side, there’s a problem with his remarks. As Gabrielle McMillen of The Sporting News reports, Parsons likely broke the NBA’s tampering rules while making the comments.
Howard is still under contract with the Houston as the Rockets are still in the playoffs against the Warriors, and as such, Parson’s publicly recruiting him is against the NBA rules.
According to NBA rules, a player or team who “directly or indirectly entices, induces or persuades anybody (player, general manager, etc.) who is under contract with another team in order to negotiate for their services” is guilty of tampering.
It’s not a smart move for Parsons to make the comments. It’s even more bizarre considering Parsons is expected to decline his player option and become a free agent himself. Yes, it’s extremely like he’ll come back, but he should worry about his own contract before he publicly recruits other players.
With all that said, Howard would be a great fit with the Mavericks. The team used Zaza Pachulia and Salah Merji at the center position last year and Howard, even though he’s lost a step in recent years, would represent a huge upgrade.
Parsons needs to stop channeling Mavericks owner Mark Cuban with his questionable public comments. Just Wait to recruit Howard after the postseason ends, that way the NBA won’t have a reason to fine you.
