NBA
Jabari Parker Is Coming Home
Jabari Parker is coming back to where it all began. Chicago Bulls fans should be excited, as Parker signed a two-year, $40 million deal to return home. Last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, he averaged 12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in just 31 games. He also seems to be happy to play for his hometown team. Parker stressed that he wasn’t getting the minutes he deserved and felt misused.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst said this about Parker.
“Jabari and I felt it was in the best interest of both he and the team to rescind our qualifying offer.”
The deal is a team option according to ESPN. It’s due to Parker’s history of knee injuries. According to ESPN’s Senior Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the second year of the deal has a team option. If he can produce at a high level and stay healthy, he can be with the Bulls for the long term.
Knowing Fred Hoiberg’s coaching style, he will implement different starting rotations early on in the season to see which lineup is successful. Expect Parker to start but also come off the bench early in the season.
What Parker Can Bring To The Bulls
He can be a good player for the second unit as well. I’m predicting Hoiberg will limit his minutes for the first 15-20 games of the season. Parker has shown some explosiveness in the playoffs.
Parker adds some shooting as well. The Bulls now have Jabari Parker, Lauri Markannen, and Bobby Portis who can spread the floor and shoot from the outside. These shooters can create drives for Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine.
With Markkanen and LaVine on the floor, spacing should not be an issue for the Bulls. If the chemistry works amongst the new young core, the Bulls could be back to the playoffs as early as next season.
