Back in April, Chandler Parsons had knee surgery that may or may not have been microfracture (but probably was). He’s spent his summer rehabbing that injury — and recruiting, but we won’t talk about that — trying to get back on the court. He was at the an unofficial workout Wednesday in Dallas but did not participate.
He’s just now getting back on the court at all.
But he told Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com he expects to be on the court opening night.
.@ChandlerParsons says he put the ball on the floor for the first time yesterday, still targeting Opening Night for a return.
— Earl K. Sneed (@EarlKSneed) September 2, 2015
He’s been shooting jumpers for a couple of weeks but is just starting to do some dribbling and other drills.
We can safely bet the rent money that the Mavericks are going to error on the side of caution here, they are not going to rush Parsons back. They don’t need him in November, they need him in April (and beyond, if they plan to advance past the first round).
If this was microfracture surgery the expected return date for an average recovery would be right around the start of the season. It could happen. But why rush it? While there is a legitimate concern about defense and depth — who is backing him up at the three, Justin Anderson? — it’s something Rick Carlisle can work around for a while.
That said, Parsons says he’ll be back. And it’s his knee.