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Parsons moving on, but sees Rockets in Mavs debut

NBA, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Miami Heat

(Eds: Will be updated after game. With AP Photos.)

By SCHUYLER DIXON

AP Sports Writer

DALLAS -- Chandler Parsons should have some new things to talk about with his old coach now that he has his first big contract with the Dallas Mavericks.

At least that's what Houston coach Kevin McHale is hoping.

"I'm sure he'll settle down and not be talking about money all the time," McHale joked before Parsons made his preseason debut against his old team Tuesday night. "He was killing me when he was talking about money all the time. He's got enough of it now."

It's more than the Rockets wanted to give him, which was part of a somewhat acrimonious departure from the franchise where Parsons spent his first three seasons. He wasn't happy that Houston made a big deal out of chasing a third star in Carmelo Anthony or Chris Bosh a summer after putting Dwight Howard alongside James Harden.

Parsons wanted a chance to be more of a headliner, so he signed a $46 million, three-year offer sheet that the Rockets declined to match. And he immediately went about trying to diffuse what figures to be a season-long talking point when these Texas rivals get together.

"It ended a little ugly media-wise, but I've talked to all those guys and have respect for all those guys," Parsons said when training camp opened. "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't weird when I go back there and play. I hope there's no hard feelings."

There won't be hard feelings for McHale, who got a warm embrace from Parsons just before the opening tip Tuesday night after his former player talked during the summer about how close they were.

"I've got no one left from my first year," said McHale, who is starting his fourth season in Houston. "I think he was the sole survivor after a year and a half. Good kid."

Parsons is also the latest catalyst in what's been mostly a good-natured rivalry between Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.

Cuban was annoyed last summer when Morey sent him a text asking if Dirk Nowitzki would be available in a trade after the Rockets beat the Mavericks and other suitors in the race for Howard. The outspoken Dallas owner took it as a taunt.

Morey in turn apparently got fed up with occasional jabs from Cuban, and said in a recent interview that free agents will always pick Houston over Dallas, and anyone who "wants to win" should sign with the Rockets.

Parsons doesn't want any part of that running commentary.

"That being a rival team and everything that happened this summer, I'm sure they're going to go back and forth, and I'll probably stay out of that," Parsons said. "All I can say is I love Dallas, and I'm really enjoying myself here."

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