Apr 15, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) warms up prior to the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Consider it Chandler Parsons' "quick first step."
Coming off of a season-ending knee injury that left many Dallas Mavericks fans wondering whether Parsons would be ready for the beginning of the 2015-2016 campaign, Parsons may have put some of those concerns to rest as he plans to attend Team USA's Men's National Team's minicamp in Las Vegas from August 11-13.
Parsons, with 15.7 points and 4.9 boards per game during his first season with the Mavs, will likely face stiff completion from forwards such as Paul George, Rudy Gay, and Gordon Hayward for a spot on the roster in future competitions. He will not have to worry about that this summer, as this mini camp is more focused on team building than actual preparation.
"With this being a summer where we do not have an official competition that we need to prepare for, this year's minicamp is an opportunity to continue and expand the brotherhood and camaraderie that has been built," Team USA president Jerry Colangelo said of the impending mini camp. "It will be a celebration of all that we've accomplished with USA Basketball since the National Team program was formed in 2006 while also looking ahead to 2016."
That might be a perfect fit for where Parsons is now. Parsons hasn't played since Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs last season being shut in the eventually first-round loss. With surgery being performed on May 1st, the smart money says Parsons will be more a part of the "camaraderie'' here than he will be doing any on-court work.
But eventually?
Parsons would provide reliable outside shooting on the wing for a Team USA squad that needs players like Parsons to participate when players like Kevin Durant and James Harden decide to take a break from international play. With so much talent at Colangelo's disposal, Parsons will have to really impress to earn playing time in future international competitions. But for Mavs fans, that's not at all the point right now.
The point is the possibility that Chandler Parsons is returning to health -- and may be close to showing it off.
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