Chicago Bulls: 3 players facing the most pressure in 2018-19

2. Jabari Parker

For Jabari Parker, this summer represented the opportunity for the former high school hero to come home. The Chicago Simeon legend signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Bulls after the Milwaukee Bucks decided not to match Chicago’s offer sheet.

While this has the makings for a feel-good story, Parker will be facing significant pressure in the upcoming season. For Chicago, the signing was relatively low risk. If the homecoming is successful, everyone wins. If Parker struggles with the Bulls, the team can decline the second year option and walk away. Parker, just 23, will have to prove that his potential is still trending upward.

Entering his fifth NBA season, Parker will need to prove he is fully recovered from not one, but two severe ACL injuries. In 2016-17, before his second ACL tear, Parker was having a career season, averaging 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Assuming Parker can post numbers close to these, the 6’8″ forward who played collegiately at Duke, will consider the season a success.

Of course, offensive statistics only tell the partial story. After playing 78 percent of his career at power forward, the Bulls expect Parker to transition to small forward next to Lauri Markkanen. This will present a challenge defensively for Parker, who has already expressed a distaste for that end of the floor. At 250 pounds, Parker’s size will make it nearly impossible for him to defend small forwards like Jayson Tatum.

For Parker to turn down the pressure, he’ll need to score efficiently and prove a lineup featuring himself, LaVine and Markkanen can be successful.