For the majority of this season the Dallas Mavericks have overachieved. Nobody expected this year's Mavericks team to compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but they have been in the top eight all season long. Lately they have come back down to earth as they have lost seven of their last nine games, but they are still tied for seventh out West.
The Mavericks are just one game clear of the Utah Jazz for the final spot in in the playoffs with just 12 games to go, and they are doing everything they can to hold onto it. That will be made much harder, though, as starting forward Chandler Parsons is expected to undergo season-ending surgery on his right knee.
Parsons left Friday night's loss to the Warriors with what the Mavericks called a sore right hamstring, but an MRI on Monday revealed that the pain in his hamstring was being caused by a torn meniscus. Parsons is expected to get a second opinion on the knee to see if he indeed does need the surgery, but it doesn't look good for him.
If Parsons does undergo the procedure this will be the second straight year he will have his season end due to knee surgery. Last season Parsons only got to play in one playoff game with Dallas before he had to have cartilage damage in his knee repaired with microfracture surgery. Parsons is reportedly extremely distraught over this news, as he was intent on helping the Mavs get into the playoffs and make some noise after not being able to participate much last season. The good news, though, is this procedure is not nearly as serious as last year's, and it should not affect his ability to go through a normal offseason program.
If the procedure does happen, the 27-year-old forward might have played his last game in Dallas. Parsons has one more year left on his deal with the Mavericks, but it is a player option that he is still expected to opt out of. Parsons is expected to be given max offers from several teams, and although the Mavericks are still the favorites to re-sign him this offseason there is at least a chance he is not back with the team next year.
The timing of this injury is unfortunate not just because the Mavericks are fighting for a playoff spot but also because Parsons was playing some great basketball. After being eased into the season with strict minutes restrictions the reigns were finally taken off Parsons, and he has delivered the past two months. The former Florida Gator has averaged 18.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game over the last two months while shooting 52 percent from the field and 48 percent from three.
