The Kings are just one of the teams expected to make a run at Jabari Parker, and some executives within the league view the former No. 2 overall pick to be among the small tier of players below stars such as LeBron James and Paul George.
“Hey, he’s a good player; I mean he’s a really good player,’’ an NBA executive told Gary Woelfel (via Woelfel’s Press Box). “And he’s young.’’
Parker is a restricted free agent, meaning the Bucks can match any rival offer he receives. One longtime NBA executive expects the 23-year-old to see a rather lucrative deal.
“I think some teams will give him $20MM [per season] and there might be some teams that will make it tough on Milwaukee to match and offer him even more,’’ the NBA official tells Woelfel.
“I think Milwaukee would like to keep him for $16MM or something around that figure, trying to use his injury situation to their advantage. But there are teams that need a big-time scorer and nobody doubts he’s a big-time scorer.’’
Another NBA executive speculated that the Sixers could make an offer for Parker should they fail to land a bigger target like James, George or Kawhi Leonard. Woelfel names the Bulls, Jazz, Pacers, Hawks, Suns, and Nets as possibilities as well.
Other NBA executives who spoke with Woelfel believe a sign-and-trade is a more likely scenario for the combo forward. That route would be Milwaukee’s preference rather than being forced to decide between signing Parker to a player-friendly contract or losing him for nothing. “It’s no secret” that the Bucks would be open to receiving an upgrade at point guard or center in such an agreement, Woelfel adds.
The Rockets and Clippers are both high on Parker and could be possibilities if a sign-and-trade were to occur, though it would be hard for Houston to complete a deal and stay under the tax apron if the team retains its own key free agents. Los Angeles and Milwaukee had discussions about Parker at last year’s trade deadline.
Parker likes Milwaukee and he reportedly paid around $1.5MM to redo the warehouse he currently lives in, according to Woelfel’s sources. Those same sources tell the scribe that despite Parker being comfortable in his current situation, it’s more likely he leaves then stays.
“He loves the people there; he loves the city,” the source said. “But I don’t see him staying there. If you’re asking me, it’s 75-25 he goes to another team.’’
Many dominos, such as James coming out of his decision cave, are likely to fall before Parker inks his next contract with a source estimating that a deal won’t take place until late-July or early-August.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
i dont see the fit w. wendell carter but id love jabari to come to the bulls.
I don’t think Wendell Carter Jr is the type of player that would prohibit you from getting another player at his position. Heck he might not even be a viable NBA starter for all we know.
Carter is a 5, with Parker playing the 3 or 4 at tops. There’s no conflict in position.
I don’t see how the Bucks don’t resign him with their cap situation. They have no room to sign another free agent, so what’s the point of letting Parker walk, even if it’s a 14-18MM deal? They won’t be able to sign anyone as good in free agency. I just don’t see Milwaukee letting him walk.
I don’t get it either. I could see Jabari maybe wanting to leave for a bigger role, but I don’t see why the Bucks seem so disinterested in bringing him back.
Parker will be with the nets next season
Woeful basically names half the league as possible destinations..quite the insider.
they don’t call him a “fan insider” for nothing
20m for this kid is a bad joke. Please….not to the pacers. He’s always hurt. Hoosier basketball is team first, tough defense, play hard on every possession, share the ball…..none of which you find in Parker.
Kings, Nets and Jazz would make sense.
If he can play the 3 next to Markkanen(4) and Carter(5), I’d love to see the Bulls bring Parker back home.
Having Parker at 3 Lavine at 2 would be great offensively but defense will struggle big time.
Utah would be a great fit, as I said a few days ago
He’s not going anywhere unless he’s traded. I could see a team loving him and bucks getting offered a few first round picks and or a recently drafted player like Wendell Carter
The multiple injuries are very worrisome. Gordon v Parker as the top RFAs, Jokic does not count. I’d go Gordon just bc of injury history but youd have to max him to get him, and still prob not get him.
Hope some team does a sign and trade w/ the Bucks so he can get away from them. He’s already a cancer on the team. Not sure why anyone would pay him 20+ million. He’s worth 10 at the most.
A sign & trade might be difficult, as he is a RFA, he have to be happy with it, so the deal he likes might be the worse one for Milwaukee, I think he will be let go for nothing. Tbh he doesn’t fit in Milwaukee with K-Mid & Giannis in the wings, he probably would have to adjust to a bench role, which I think it would be good for him to recover full health, but in this stage of his career I cannot see accepting that, of course as a bench player should make less than 10MM, so is not gonna happen, good luck Jabari in (Utah)?
“Many dominos, such as James coming out of his decision cave, are likely to fall before Parker inks his next contract”.
What a lovely mix of metaphors!
Old man Alfred got fresher knees than Jabari