The Dallas Mavericks are currently in the middle of a tough fight to try and earn a spot in the Western Conference playoffs. After Dallas missed out on signing DeAndre Jordan this offseason, nobody viewed them as a playoff team, but they have been in the top eight out West all season despite all of the injuries they have dealt with.
It seemed like the Mavericks' playoff chances suffered a devastating blow Tuesday morning when Chandler Parsons was thought to be undergoing season-ending surgery on his knee. Parsons is still expected to undergo that surgery, but it isn't considered serious and they are hopeful that he can return this season.
A report released Monday night updated the situation, saying that Parsons will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery to repair the meniscus while adding that procedure may not end Parsons' season. There has been no timetable given for when Parsons might be able to return, but with less than a month left in the regular season, it is hard to imagine him getting back before it ends.
This new update may just be optimism that if the Mavericks make the playoffs, Parsons will be able to participate, but making the playoffs won't be easy for Dallas without him. Parsons has been on fire over the last two months, as he has averaged better than 18 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 48 percent from three.
The Mavericks are just one game ahead of the Utah Jazz in the standings out West, and it won't be easy to maintain that lead without one of their best players. The Mavericks have already ruled out Parsons for their upcoming four-game road trip, but they haven't given any details officially on the injury or what his recovery process is.
The good news for Parsons personally is that this injury should not affect his health long-term. The 27-year-old forward will likely become a free agent this offseason, as he is expected to opt out of the final year of his current deal, so he wants a clean bill of health moving forward. The bad news is that Parsons wanted to help the Mavericks get back to the playoffs very badly after not being able to play after game one of the first round last season. It is still possible that the Mavericks make the playoffs this season, but it won't be easy as they will need guys like Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews to up their game without Parsons on the floor.
