The Bucks felt that the organization and Jabari Parker were trending in different directions, league sources tell Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). The team let Jabari Parker become an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to sign a two-year, $40MM deal with the Bulls.
Schultz notes that GM Jon Horst didn’t have to rescind the qualifying offer which kept Parker as a restricted free agent, but he did so to allow Parker the ability to negotiate the best possible deal with Chicago.
Here are more notes and reactions from around the league:
- For Parker to provide good value at $20MM per season, he’ll have to develop into an All-Star caliber player, Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com writes. Pelton can envision a scenario where Parker continues to be limited defensively and becomes what amounts to a high-scoring sixth man. The scribe sees that value to be comparable to Will Barton‘s deal, one that will pay the wing an annual value of $13.5MM.
- The Bucks would have had to part with either a productive player or attach an asset in order to dump one of their players with larger, unfriendly contract if they intended to sign Parker and stay under the luxury tax, Pelton notes in the same piece. Pelton evaluates Milwaukee’s roster and finds that it didn’t have any smaller contracts that provided poor value, meaning the franchise would have had to find takers for either Matthew Dellavedova, Tony Snell or John Henson, something that’s easier said than done.
- The Bucks are set to have $116MM on the books this season after the signings of Ersan Ilyasova and Brook Lopez, ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (ESPN now link). Milwaukee’s future cap space will be dependent on what Khris Middleton does with his $13MM player option next season. If he opts out and Eric Bledsoe does not return, the team could have upwards of $28MM in cap space.
That was the gentleman think to do from Milwaukee, very classy way to treat players, they notice, maybe Ainge could take a tip or two, just saying.
Also I think Milwaukee is done better getting Ilyasova, fits better with the team. Still gutted Philly didn’t keep him, sooo much better in sooo many ways than Amir. SMH
You can’t blame Danny Ainge for doing what’s best for his team. Players still want to play there so he’s doing something right.
Ainge has done nothing wrong. Sour grapes from guys overvaluing themselves (Thomas and Smart) does not reflect poorly on Danny.
Correct packman92…Ainge truthfully hasn’t done anything wrong, he is simply just doing his job.
If Marcus Smart wants someone to blame, then primarily blame himself and his agent, but he can also blame the RFA process. The way that restricted free agency is set up, it carries the potential to hurt alot of player’s feelings..Especially those players that are good but not great..For example, look at Zach LaVine and the Bulls..He was hurt that it took him signing the King’s offer, for the Bulls to ultimately decided to make a significant commitment to him..But, afterwards, he eventually said he understood..
I mean, unless you’re a sure fire, top tier talent, then you can’t blame a GM for letting a player’s market develop, before ultimately making a decision. When constructing a contending roster, overpaying for even just one solid role player, it can really hurt your future flexibility..So, these deals need to be carefully constructed, and if a team can save some money, they certainly won’t hesitate..After all, EVERYONE knows the NBA is a business..
Anyways, Ainge and Smart’s representatives can’t come to terms on an agreement, so Ainge is basically just saying, “Look Marcus, I’m trying to he fair, but you and your agent are being unreasonable. And to prove it, we can wait and see if there are any teams that are willing to give you what you’re asking for.”
Which, clearly, no other team agrees with Smart and his agents’ asking price. So, truthfully, if anyone is at fault, for causing turmoil and a rift in their relationship, it is Marcus Smart and his agent..
Like I said, all Ainge has done is played the hand he’s been dealt…Just because no one will give you what you want, that doesn’t mean your team’s GM is being unfair or rude. It simply means you’re clearly unaware and out of touch with the market when it comes to your own value..So, if Smart really wants to blame someone, he should blame his own agent for not realistically explaining to him his worth..
Also it is a dubious claim by Smart that Ainge has not tried to communicate. He just won’t take the calls until more money is attached.
Ya, because getting Parker a best possible deal would mean less future cap space for the Bulls, making Bulls less competitive for future FAs that are more important to Bucks.
It’s a one year deal really. The second year is a team option. So that doesn’t make them less competitive
REWANE, you have it completely backwards!!
The ONLY reason Chicago was allowed to make that 2nd year, on Parker’s contract, a team option was because the Bucks rescinded Parker’s offer..
Normally, when you sign a restricted free agent to an offer sheet, it HAS TO be for AT LEAST TWO GUARANTEED seasons!!
So, the Bucks, by making Parker an unrestricted free agent, they actually allowed the Bulls to sign Parker to a deal, PLUS they allowed the Bulls to maintain their cap space and flexibility for the 2019 class…
So yeah, the Bucks ended up helping out Parker, but they REALLY helped the Bulls out tremendously!!
So, the Bucks did not help out Parker, if their action kept him from a second guaranteed year. If I’m hearing this right.