The Bucks made headlines last week by parting ways with head coach Jason Kidd, and another major event for the franchise is right around the corner, as Jabari Parker is set to return on Friday from last year’s ACL injury. With Parker poised to get back on the court, ESPN’s Zach Lowe takes a look at the situation in Milwaukee, sharing a couple interesting tidbits on the 22-year-old’s contract situation.
According to Lowe, the Bucks and Parker discussed an extension last offseason that would have been worth $54MM over three years. The former No. 2 overall pick wasn’t willing to accept that offer, so the two sides discussed other possible deals, including shorter- and longer-term scenarios. However, Milwaukee’s per-year limit was always right around $18MM, says Lowe.
Parker – who views himself as a max player, per Lowe – will now have at least a couple months to prove that he’s worth a massive investment, though it remains to be seen how high the Bucks will be prepared to go this summer when Parker reaches restricted free agency.
Here’s more from Lowe on the Bucks:
- Providing a few more details on Kidd’s ouster, Lowe says that the former Bucks head coach had a “sometimes strained” relationship with the team’s medical staff, and that some players wanted more communication and support from Kidd.
- Although there were reports indicating that Giannis Antetokounmpo was “devastated” as a result of Kidd’s firing, the move isn’t expected to result in a lingering rift between the club and its star player, writes Lowe.
- Prior to acquiring Eric Bledsoe from the Suns, the Bucks discussed a similar deal with the Hawks for Dennis Schroder, league sources tell Lowe.
- The Bucks continue to be active in trade discussions, but talks with the Clippers for DeAndre Jordan haven’t gotten anywhere near serious, according to Lowe. The ESPN scribe suggests that Derrick Favors might be a decent fit for Milwaukee, but isn’t sure whether the team has the right assets to appeal to the Jazz.
there are a bunch of teams that would take a chance on jabari… i hope the bulls are one lol
Bucks won’t lose him
Bucks won’t lose him unless the Bulls give up their first
Bulls would sign him in free agency, not get him in a trade.
but he’s only a rfa, so the bucks could match the bulls offer and trade him to them
Are sign and trades still a thing in the NBA? I thought there was a minimum amount of time you have to wait before you can trade a player.
yeah the bucks can match, but according to the article, they have a limit of 18mil annually
$54m over 3 yet he turned that down….. GREED!!
You still have to prove yourself Parker.
And Bucks should have a crack at Whiteside
I don’t think the heat or the Bucks would be down with that
I love Derek Favors. That would be a perfect fit for Milwaukee. We need muscle and he can score. Favors has had a bad shake early in his career in nj and Utah
Zach Lowe is an excellent writer.
Man oh man I wish he would leave ESPN.
At least he’s not behind the “espn insider” paywall.