Kings forward Jabari Parker is exercising his player option for the 2020/21 season, postponing free agency for another year, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter). The option will pay Parker a guaranteed $6.5MM salary.
Parker, the No. 2 pick in the 2014 draft, started the 2019/20 season with the Hawks before being sent to Sacramento in a deadline trade. He had been averaging 15.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG in 26.2 minutes per contest (32 games) in Atlanta, but saw his role significant reduced with the Kings, recording 8.5 PPG and 3.8 RPG in just 13.3 MPG (six games).
Although Parker is a solid scorer, he’s not a great outside shooter or defender, limiting his value in an era when every team is seeking three-and-D wings. It’s unlikely he would have matched or exceeded his $6.5MM option salary in free agency. He’ll reach the open market in 2021.
[RELATED: NBA Player Option Decisions For 2020/21]
While Parker’s option decision guarantees his 2020/21 salary, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll spend the entire year in Sacramento. New Kings GM Monte McNair could shop the 25-year-old’s expiring contract in trade discussions this month or before the 2021 deadline.
“…he’s not a great outside shooter or defender”…Harden plays better ‘D’ than this guy
And Harden plays no D.
I don’t know which “can’t miss” Duke player has been more disappointing, Parker or Jahlil Okafor.
Toss a coin
Parker was more hyped but injuries limited him whereas Okafor didn’t live up to any of his hype outside of his rookie year maybe
I think Okafor can get a small pass just because Philly tried to draft the BPA instead of need and that forced them to limit both Nerlens Noel and Okafor. One has to wonder what would have happened to the careers of Noel, Okafor, and Porzingis if Philly had chosen KP 3rd and the Knicks got Okafor 4th. I think it would have helped all three of them greatly.
You’re kidding, right ? Okafor is a severely limited, lazy player.
Speaking of Duke. Jabari is getting some props from locals for his competitive attitude, partly a function of fatigue with Bagley’s slow development at the same position.