Mavericks Chandler Parsons Calls Out DeAndre Jordan, Says he ‘was scared’ of being a Franchise Player

When DeAndre Jordan backed out of his verbal agreement to sign with the Dallas Mavericks in order to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers, Maverick fans were not the only people who were upset. Chandler Parsons, who was very active in recruiting Jordan, has spoken out about the situation.

"I'm shocked, very disappointed, frustrated, disrespected. This is something that I've never seen in my career, and I know that it doesn't happen very often. When a man gives you his word and an organization his word, especially when that organization put in so much effort and I walked him through this process and was very, very open and willing to work with him, it's just very unethical and disrespectful," Parsons, who is friends with Jordan, said to ESPN Dallas' Tim MacMahon.

Jordan changed his mind right before the free agent moratorium would have been lifted, allowing him to sign the deal with the Mavericks. The center reportedly reached out to his former team and informed them that he wanted to stay in LA. Several members of the Clippers' staff as well as players Chris Paul and Blake Griffin then traveled to visit Jordan in his Houston home, where they stayed by his side until he could legally sign the contract.

During this time, Jordan did not answer any phone calls and text messages from the Mavericks. Jordan's decision to completely ignore the Mavericks was what angered Parsons the most.

 "Yeah, he was very randomly responding to me, but he was not responding to Mark at all, which in my eyes is very unprofessional. An owner that bent over backwards, did whatever you said throughout this process and was giving you a chance to be great, I don't know how you shut him out and close the door on him when he's in your city and just wanting to meet with you and get a face-to-face with you like you said that you were going to and just completely ignoring you, I don't know how he did that," Parsons explained. The kind of guy that he is, the kind of guy I thought he is, would never do something like that. That's tough for me to swallow, just from the fact that I know how excited Mark was. I know how invested Mark has been throughout this whole process. That's what I don't get.

He added, "Be a professional. Pick up the phone. If you're not going to meet with him, pick up the phone and tell the guy that you're committed to what you're feeling, what you're going through and maybe he can talk it out and help you. But do not ignore the guy. Do not make him sit there and sweat it out. That's just very unprofessional. I can't get over that part."

When asked why he thought Jordan changed his mind, Parsons reasoned that the pressure of being a franchise player could have been too much for Jordan. Parsons stated that when it came down to it, Jordan was scared of taking on a much larger role.

"He's very comfortable in L.A. He can play behind Chris Paul, play behind Blake Griffin. That's what I thought he didn't want. Throughout the process, that's what he told me he didn't want. He wanted to take the next step in his career. He wanted to be the man on his team and build something special," Parson explained. That's why I was so into this, because it's the same thing I want. It's the same exact reasons I left Houston. That's why I thought he was going to leave L.A. He was tired of being in the shadows. He wanted a bigger role. He wanted the attention he deserves, which is why it's so mind-blowing, because he's going back to the same exact thing that he wanted to leave for the last couple of weeks."

Parsons stated that even though he does not think his friendship with the big man would be completely ruined, the Mavericks are now in deep waters. The only upside for the Mavericks now is the possibility of signing with Deron Williams, who is reportedly talking about a potential buy out with the Brooklyn Nets.