Chicago Bulls: 3 reasons Jabari Parker is a bad move
1. What potential effect will Parker addition have on Big 3?
The Bulls were excited when they acquired the trio of LaVine, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen in the Jimmy Butler trade during the 2017 offseason. Markkanen exceeded expectations despite being thrown into the starting lineup from day one.
Dunn’s numbers were up across the board following a less than memorable rookie season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. LaVine proved that he is capable of taking over games down the stretch and it appears that he has not lost a step as far as his athleticism is concerned.
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The caveat here is the success these players enjoyed didn’t come from them being on the court at the same time. In fact, the trio played in just 12 games together. As a result, the front office made this a point of emphasis going into the offseason. Bearing this in mind, it is conceivable that adding another ball-dominant player to the mix could prevent the trio from taking the next step.
Another point worth noting is the fact that Parker has spent most of his career playing at the power forward position. With Markkanen and Bobby Portis turning in solid seasons at that spot, though, the Bulls will more than likely have to slide Parker over to the small forward spot – a position occupied by some of the top-tiered players in the NBA, such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Paul George.
Needless to say, Parker will have his work cut out for him playing at the 3-spot.
The Bulls were wise to include a team option in the second year of the deal, in the event this scenario doesn’t work out as planned. And who knows? Parker may put together the kind of season that will silence the doubters.
Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
For the time being though, based on the makeup of the roster, this move has the makings of being an odd fit for several reasons.