Parsons heads to France to play for Cholet

With the NBA lockout ongoing and potentially not ending any time soon, former Florida Gators forward Chandler Parsons decided to take advantage of another opportunity and will play for two months across the Atlantic Ocean in France.

Parsons signed a two-month deal with Cholet Basket, one of 16 teams in Pro A of the Ligue Nationale de Basketball, the top men’s French professional basketball league. He is signed through Oct. 31 but has an out clause on Oct. 3 – the day the NBA is supposed to open training camp – in case the league does start on time.

“It’s a great opportunity. Cholet is one of the better teams in France and they have a great history,” Parsons told OGGOA Friday evening. “It’s really prestigious team. I’m just happy they were flexible enough to allow me to come over there and play with a NBA out to return to Houston whenever [the lockout] ends.”

Though he has never been to France, Parsons is excited about the opportunity and feels some comfort knowing that a long-time friend, guard Taylor Battle formerly of Penn State, is currently playing for Cholet.

“It will be nice to have him there and know somebody,” he said. “I think it’s good just to keep competing and playing, and they have a high level of talent over there, so I think I’m better off going there, competing and practicing every day and getting better as a player.”

After his two-month deal is over, if the NBA has not begun playing, Parsons has the option to re-sign with Cholet, return to the United States or play for any other team.

“There were other teams in a few other countries [that offered],” he said. “If you look, not a lot of guys are getting the option to go overseas with an out [clause]. I’m real fortunate. My agent [Mark Bartelstein] did a great job, and I’m just excited to go do it and be able to compete instead of just being around home and working out here.”

The No. 38 overall pick in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft, Parsons was selected by the Houston Rockets, who had originally traded the pick but bought it back for $1.5 million. He is expected to sign a guaranteed contract when the 2011-12 season begins.

Photo Credit: US Presswire