Parsons on Howard's comments: 'I know he didn't mean it,' calls Cuban NBA's best owner

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It's okay that Dwight Howard suggested the Houston Rockets wouldn't miss Chandler Parsons, they're still besties.

At least, that's how Parsons sees it, telling The Jim Rome Show that there are no hard feelings after Howard said "It won't affect us at all" of Parsons signing with the Dallas Mavericks:

I know he didn't mean it. He’s one of my closest friends. He’s got to be confident with the Rockets moving forward with or without me there, so I understand where he’s coming from. I think it’s a ridiculous statement, but at the end of the day, he has to stick up for the Rockets and I don’t think he meant it in a bad way and didn't try to bash me at all.

Ahh, the old "It's okay...it's ridiculous, but it's okay" play. Very smooth, Chandler.

Parsons also made a comment that may not sit well with Rockets' owner Leslie Alexander, though this one seemed more about pumping the tires of his new boss than deflating those of his old one. On Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Parsons had this to say:

I think he’s the best owner in sports and just knowing the Mavericks won’t be bad as long as he owns the team was big for me. As a person he was great, one of the funniest dudes I’ve ever met in my life, and he’s very successful. But he basically told me and showed me how I’d fit in the Mavericks style, how I’m a priority for them, they view me as a franchise player and think I can do big things there. He believes in me.

Not surprisingly, Parsons also reiterated that he had anticipated the Rockets matching when he signed the offer sheet with the Mavericks that will pay him $45 million over the next three seasons. The Rockets deemed that too limiting on their flexibility, and here we are, Parsons in Dallas and the Rockets still without a third star they covet.

While the NBA's schedule for 2014-15 isn't out yet, get ready to circle the four match-ups between Houston and Dallas, as they should provide some entertaining mid-season drama.