Chicago Bulls agree to sign Jabari Parker to a two-year, $40 million deal
As it turns out, the Chicago Bulls were wheeling and dealing this week for a reason. The Bulls have agreed to sign Milwaukee Bucks forward and Chicago native Jabari Parker to a two-year deal.
The NBA offseason never disappoints, at least in terms of drama. Last week, the Chicago Bulls matched the Sacramento Kings’ offer sheet for Zach LaVine. This week, the Bulls agreed to sign Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker after the team rescinded its qualifying offer, according to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski.
At face value, it’s a somewhat risky move for the Bulls, especially for $20 million per year. However, the second year is a team option, which protects them. Parker suffered not one, but two ACL tears while with the Bucks. Also, having played the same position as Lauri Markkanen while in Milwaukee, Parker will need to move to small forward in Chicago.
Offensively, he causes mismatches due to his size, strength and athleticism at 6’8″ and 250 pounds. However, this also makes him a defensive liability. With LaVine in the lineup, also coming off an ACL injury, having two defensive liabilities is scary.
Let’s take a look at how Parker fits with the Bulls.
Parker may just be a risk worth taking for Chicago
The issue with the Bulls is simple: They need more talent. Jabari Parker represents an opportunity for the front office to add to a young, talented core.
He’s still young at only 23 years old, and can score from anywhere on the court. Playing the small forward position will allow him take advantage of mismatches nearly every night.
After his return last season, Parker showed his lift and explosiveness was back. With his strength, he can get to the basket almost at will. With Markkanen and LaVine on the floor, spacing shouldn’t be an issue for the Bulls. Even a good shooting big man like Wendell Carter Jr. will create problems for defenses with Parker on the floor.
Jabari Parker will dunk on you pic.twitter.com/6M5pYFHYwE
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) April 2, 2018
Each season, Parker has increased his 3-point shooting, averaging 38 percent from beyond the arc last year. He’s also good close to the basket, shooting 76 percent from inside the paint.
Offensively, the Bulls could be very exciting to watch. The key is whether the LaVine/Parker/Markkanen combo can create the on-court chemistry necessary for success. Could the ball-dominant Parker and LaVine duo clash on the court? Markkanen cannot go possession after possession just watching his teammates launch shot after shot. In order for this work, Kris Dunn will need to quarterback this offense.
How this could turn into a disaster
First of all, the knees. The Bulls seem to like players with ACL injuries. Let’s not even discuss the Derrick Rose injuries. Next season, the Bulls training staff might be the real MVPs if they can keep LaVine and Parker on the court.
More from Chicago Bulls
- NBA Rumors: Chicago pursuing the best remaining free agent
- 3 Ways the Chicago Bulls can utilize their disabled player exception
- 3 Teams that dodged a bullet with Russell Westbrook news
- NBA Rumors: Could Goran Dragic’s days be numbered on the Chicago Bulls?
- Revisiting 5 recent terrible trades ahead of the deadline
Parker will ride into Chicago on two surgically repaired knees. Yes, he’s only 23, but it’s going to be hard for fans (and Parker, honestly) to forget those knees. Bulls fans are still swallowing the LaVine deal. Now they might be holding their breath with Parker too. Every time he takes a tumble or a hard foul, there will be a collective gasp in the United Center. It’s not his fault, it’s just the reality of the situation.
Then, there’s the issue with his defense. He’s not that good at it. At least, not at this point. It’s possible he improves, but moving to small forward won’t help. It’s hard to imagine him being able to defend a Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum.
With LaVine and Parker on the wings, guards might be running through the frontcourt like turnstiles in Chicago. At least Carter looks like a rim protector, but they’ll need the rookie to clean up some bad defense.
It might be a risk, but for the Chicago Bulls, it’s a worthwhile one
Bulls fans are fed up with GarPax, I get it. It’s not completely without merit, but there is probably some piling on as well. Here’s the deal though, the Bulls need to continue to add talent. Parker is talented, and though I’m not completely sure how he’ll fit, he can play. I’m taking a wait-and-see attitude toward the Parker/Bulls marriage.
Taking on Parker and filling the salary cap space they’ve so desperately coveted does limit their flexibility. With this move, the Bulls are out on a potential Carmelo Anthony deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. It would have been nice to see the Bulls acquire assets from OKC and then waive Anthony. That won’t happen now.
I will say this though, whether this works out or not, it’s nice to see the Bulls taking on high-risk, high-reward challenges. If this works, the Bulls could be sneaky good in the East. Clearly, the bottom could also drop out.
Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
I think this could work out for the Bulls. It’s a short-term investment and it doesn’t involve the Bulls selling or trading second round picks.