Former No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker expressed confidence in his decision to sign with the Hawks last month, explaining to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune why Atlanta appeared to be the best situation for him in free agency.
“It’s never promised that things are going to go well, but just from the energy that I’m feeling, it’s a good situation for me,” Parker said. “Trae Young is someone who can not only score but distribute. John Collins is a very, very good player.
“I know the expectations. I can fulfill my role accordingly. I’m young, but they’re younger. One thing I take pride in is I’ve now been every player — from the first to last guy on the team. And I’m grateful for those experiences.”
Parker, who held per-game averages of 14.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 26.9 minutes last season with Chicago and Washington, has had a rocky start to his professional career. He’s played with four different teams since being drafted in 2014, unable to find a consistent role with a franchise.
In addition to adding Parker, the Hawks will enter the 2019/20 season with new players Evan Turner, Allen Crabbe, Damian Jones and Chandler Parsons, along with first-round picks Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter.
There’s more from the Southeast Division today:
- Carmelo Anthony could be a logical option for the Heat depending on what role he’d receive, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes. Miami is loaded at the power forward position, though the team could use its final roster spot on a player who can provide depth at small forward if Justise Winslow keeps his starting point guard job. The Heat’s decision could also come down to whether Udonis Haslem chooses to return next season.
- In a separate piece for the Sun Sentinel, Winderman examines how outside free agency signings impacted the Heat and their competition during the offseason. Superstars such as Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Paul George and others all changed teams this past summer.
- Bobby Marks of ESPN (via Twitter) provides cap details on the contracts inked by Cody Martin and Caleb Martin, who both signed with the Hornets. Cody’s contract ($1.17MM in the first season) is guaranteed in the second season and non-guaranteed in the third, while Caleb signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the team.
Rigggggght, the heat seem logical… over the cap, would have to cut a guy… and have jimmy buckets. Im sure hed love playing with melo.
Why is the heat connected by reporters to every horrible trade possible? Oh right its a big market the nba wants to sell, so “insiders” link them to names.
First westbrooke, when they had dragic on a good enough shorter deal… then my god it was cp3 an even worse deal. Now a locker room cancer as big as….. carmelo.
Wow the nba hacks are sure pushing for another “name” in miami. Theyd love to give the banana boater 6 man o da year…alas he’s still bitter, delusional and a one dimensional heartless chucker.
Its official no one wants him.
Any team that pays attention to analytics knows that Melo takes too many 2 point jump shots. These shots return the lowest points per possession when compared to 3 pointers and inside shots. He is a good three point shooter but can you trust him to forgo the low quality jump shots? In other words, spot up 3 shooter? You know what you’re getting defensively which is not much. I could only see the Knicks taking him for nostalgia purposes but even that seems slim. A playoff worthy team should risk it.
Nothing wrong with taking (and, more importantly, MAKING) 2-pt shots.
yeah but when he shoots 41% from 2 that is no Bueno.
@victorGunzales
Yeah, but no. He shot 49% from 2pt range last year and 47% for his career. He did have an overall FG% of 41%. His 3pt shooting % was low at 33%.
The big problem with Melo’s numbers is how he’s been used the last 2 years.
For his career he’s averaged about 4 3pt FG attempted vs 15 2pt FG attempts. The past two years, whether he’s not understanding his role or the idea was to make him a spot up 3pt shooter, his shooting ratio 3pt:2pt has been off.
2017-18: 6 3pt shots pg vs 9 2pt shots pg
2018-19: 6.4 3pt shots pg vs 5.7 2pt shots pg.
His 3pt% the last two years hasn’t been great at 36% (17-18) and 33% (18-19). His FT attempts are down too as he’s not drawing fouls as a catch and shoot guy.
Melo can still play. And he is NOT a clubhouse cancer and I really wish ppl would stop saying that because they CLEARLY have no idea how to use it. You can be a non-efficient shooter and still be a good teammate. A cancer is someone with an who either by words or actions (or non-action) rubs his teammates the wrong way or has fights with teammates. I’ve NEVER heard anyone say that about him. He was shamefully run out of NY because he was making too much money, didn’t want to leave NY and his game didn’t mesh with Jackson’s triangle offense. He is absolutely a player whose game is not a great match in today’s NBA and he doesn’t deserve to be a starter on most teams. However, he’s not a toxic person. Even Knick teammates had his back when the question when asked. It’s not even about defending him cause I’m not a Melo fanboy but I think we need to make a distinction between a player’s style not meshing with the team vs him being a bad teammate that offends players and coaches.
Melo needs to go to a team where the coach knows how to use him. Bring him off the bench when you need buckets and let him run his game. He is NOT an elite 3pt shooter (near or above 40% on 4+ attempts). Just bring him in when you need scoring and let him loose. Run plays with him. Let him get the ball in the post and work his magic. He is a scorer with several moves so don’t have him standing in the corner as a catch and shoot guy. That’s not playing into his strength and you’re not going to have the best results.
It seems to me that teams/coaches get these star players yet fail to put them in the best situation to succeed. It’s reasonable to ask a vet to take a lesser role on a team but asking them to play a completely different game 10+ years into their career probably isn’t going to work.
I think a team like the Spurs could really get the best out of Melo because Pop is going to scheme to limit his exposure to weakness (poor D and slows the movement of the ball offensively) and feed into his strength to score whether ISO and designed plays. Use him like the Pistons used Vinnie “Microwave” Johnson. Coming off the bench I bet Melo is good for 8-15 points over 15-20 minutes of play. I think he would make an excellent backup to LBJ if he’s willing to accept coming off the bench. I would say Philly too. Keep a scorer on the floor when Embiid needs to sit.
@buckman Not attacking you but I think you’re drawing wrong conclusions.
Melo doesn’t take “too many” 2pt shots and I’m not even sure what that means. Too many 2pt shoots infers that they’re taking too few 3pt shots seeing as how those are the only shooting options they have.
The players with a high 2pt FG% tend to be bigs that play closer to the rim. These are the top to guys in that category:
1. Thomas Bryant • WAS .685
2. Rudy Gobert • UTA .668
3. Clint Capela • HOU .647
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo • MIL .641
5. Derrick Favors • UTA .640
6. JaVale McGee • LAL .634
7. Jarrett Allen • BRK .629
8. Montrezl Harrell • LAC .623
9. Brook Lopez • MIL .613
10. John Collins • ATL .609
Non “bigs” that rank high are Durant (.587/17th), LBJ and Bledsoe (.582/23rd), Simmons (.566), Beal (.548) and so on. Melo shot about .491. I’m not sure why he’s not listed (maybe not enough attempts? but here are others in that range: Butler, Kemba, DeRozen, Mark Gasolm, Middleton, PG13, etc. I think anytime you’re a non-big and you’re near that 50% range then you’re doing well.
Melo shoots the 3 adequately (35%) for his career but it’s not high enough to make him a good/great stand in the corner 3pt shooting option. He’s streaky a lot like LBJ at times. When he’s hot, forget about it but when it’s off, he’s best posting it up, faking and shooting closer to the basket etc. His highest shooting % was within 15ft of the basket. His lowest were long 2s (46%) and 3pt distance (33%)
I truly think that in OKC and Houston they simply didn’t put him in the best position to succeed (with ball dominant guards on the floor) the majority of the time. You put him on a team that needs scoring when their ball dominant guard is resting or needs another scoring option on the floor and he can thrive because he would know that when brought into the game the guard is going to try and put the ball in his hands to score. As long as he’s willing to accept his role, which he voiced in his recent ESPN interview, and the coach isn’t confusing him for Kyle Kover then I think Melo can really help someteams with a shot of offense.