Blazers extend qualifying offers to Leonard, Harkless, Crabbe

The Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly willing to pay Parsons the max, too, and Howard reportedly has meetings scheduled with the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics.

Chris Haynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the Portland Trail Blazers will also meet with Parsons.

While we wait to see what happens, Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated joined me on the radio show (12-3p on 750-AM and 102.9-FM) for a deep dive on National Basketball Association free agency.

Earlier Friday, ESPN reported that there was “no chance” of Parsons returning to the Mavericks.

A source described Chandler Parsons as “really impressed” with Portland’s presentation, which included a four-year max offer and emphasized the Trail Blazers’ vision for him.

Nothing is firm until the free agent moratorium ends on July 7th, but for now it appears that the dream of a big-name center signing in Portland is dead and Chandler Parsons is their best hope. Parsons missed the last 13 regular season games and the entire playoffs for the Mavs.

Parsons is not bound to accept that deal… Batum is high on the list of Dallas’ contingency plans if they don’t sign Conley and/or Whiteside.

Acquired by the Trail Blazers in 2015 after spending his first three seasons in Orlando, Harkless posted averages of 6.4 points on 47.5 percent shooting, 3.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.62 steals and 18.7 minutes in 78 games (14 starts) with Portland in 2015-16. The arthroscopic operation Parsons underwent this spring to address a torn meniscus in the knee wasn’t almost as serious as the previous surgery.

Crabbe averaged a career-high 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists last season with the Blazers, his third with the league.