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ESPN Staff Writer- Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009
- Covers the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks
- Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM
The Memphis Grizzlies have ended the ill-fated Chandler Parsons era, trading the often-injured forward to the Atlanta Hawks for forward Solomon Hill and center Miles Plumlee, league sources told ESPN on Wednesday.
The trade allows Memphis to move on from perhaps the biggest personnel mistake in franchise history. Largely because of chronic knee problems, Parsons has been unproductive since signing a four-year, $94 million maximum contract, averaging 7.2 points and 2.6 rebounds while playing only 95 games over the last three seasons.
Memphis was unable to agree to a contract buyout number with Parsons, so the Grizzlies chose the trade with Atlanta that allows for two smaller expiring salaries, those of Hill and Plumlee, that might be easier to move in a deal. The Hawks were able to create a roster opening in the deal.
The Hawks are building around young players, but are open to giving Parsons an opportunity to earn a role in his final year under contract. If another team shows interest in signing him, a contract buyout always remains a possibility.
After spending several weeks working out on his own in Los Angeles, Parsons returned to the Grizzlies after the All-Star break and played the final 22 games, his longest games-played streak of his Memphis tenure.
Parsons, 30, who had season-ending knee surgeries in each of his two years with the Dallas Mavericks before signing with the Grizzlies, is due $25.1 million in the final season of his contract.
Hill, acquired by the Hawks in a draft-night deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, and Plumlee are also entering the final season of their contracts. Hill has a salary of $12.8 million, and Plumlee is due $12.5 million.
Plumlee, 30, has averaged 4.9 points and 4.5 rebounds for five teams in his career. He was acquired by the Hawks in the 2017 trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Charlotte Hornets.
Hill, 28, has career averages of 5.9 points and 3.3 rebounds.
