Chicago Bulls: 3 reasons Jabari Parker is a good move
1. Bulls able to maintain cap flexibility
Like some people, I was a bit taken back when I heard the news about the Bulls bringing Parker back to the Windy City. After all, the guy has had two ACL surgeries during his four seasons in the NBA.
As many of you recall, Derrick Rose – a former MVP – became a shell of his former self following multiple season-ending knee surgeries. LaVine – who is also a little over a year removed from an ACL injury – played in just 24 games last season. Albeit a small sample size, the Bulls decided that he was worth a $78 million investment.
The situation is similar with Parker in the sense the Bulls aren’t quite sure which version of him they will see next season. It could very well be the player who was in the midst of a breakout year in this third NBA season when he compiled averages of 20.1 points and 6.2 boards per game. Then again, it could also be the player that averaged 12.6 points per outing in 31 appearances in 2017-18.
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The good news here is while the Bulls are willing to invest an annual salary of $20 million on Parker, the second year of the deal is a team option. This means the Bulls can opt out if Parker doesn’t live up to expectations. If this scenario comes to fruition, the Bulls will have approximately $35 million available next offseason, thus allowing them to maintain cap flexibility.
On the other side of the equation, it’s a chance for Parker to prove that he can be productive in spite of the multiple knee surgeries that cost him large chunks of two seasons. If that is the case, he and the Bulls can potentially work towards a long-term deal.
From the Bulls’ standpoint, this is considered a low-risk, high-reward scenario. As far as Parker is concerned, he’s being given an opportunity to prove that he can be a difference-maker on an NBA roster and what better way to do so than to return to the city he grew up in?
Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Simply put, it’s a win-win situation for both sides.