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Chandler Parsons, Mark Cuban’s Relationship Outlined in ESPN Exclusive
- Updated: November 18, 2016
Personal relationships and friendships between owners and athletes in sports are not an uncommon occurrence, though the bond Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and current Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons had during the latter’s two-year stint in Dallas was unusual.
As depicted in a profile by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Cuban and Parsons frequently spent nights going out to clubs in cities like Dallas and Las Vegas, drinking and partying to the point where Parsons basically had input on roster and personnel decisions for the Mavs:
It wasn’t long before Parsons grew to enjoy the rarest of indulgences, normally reserved for long-term superstars: Parsons became a go-to resource on personnel matters, proposing one move after another, some of which became reality.
At one point, Parsons pitched his boss on something bold: Say farewell to high-scoring free agent Monta Ellis, who clashed with Parsons and wore out his welcome with many in the Mavs organization; go all in on recruiting Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, whom Parsons believed could blossom to become the NBA’s best big man and would be a perfect fit to play with him.
MacMahon noted Cuban “rubber-stamped the plan.” Ellis opted out of his deal in the summer of 2015, eventually signing a four-year deal with the Indiana Pacers.
Meanwhile, Parsons was in charge of leading the Mavs’ push for Jordan, “rarely leaving Jordan’s …
