The Chicago Bulls have agreed to terms on a 2 year, $40 million deal with Jabari Parker. The second year is a team option, which gives Chicago more security because of Parker’s injury history. But, it also means that next summer, Parker can re-negotiate for a long term deal. Parker’s contract was restricted with the Milwaukee Bucks, but Bucks GM Jon Horst told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that they will not match the offer for Parker.
Bucks GM Jon Horst tells ESPN that Bucks weren’t going to match offer sheet, and worked in good faith with Parker and his agent Mark Bartelstein to let them negotiate the unrestricted deal with Bulls. There was no harm for Bucks to make the gesture. https://t.co/MDdwleqExa
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 14, 2018
Parker was a solid player for the Bucks last season putting up an efficient 12.9 points (48.2% FG, 38% 3P), 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He was coming off of an injury, and dealt with nagging injuries all year, playing only 31 games.
Parker is a great fit with Chicago in a few different ways. Culture wise, he’s still very young, which fits the rest of that team. Chicago is his hometown, so that works very well for him. And also, the team fit is great. The Bulls don’t really have a #1 guy, but they have a lot of young talent who all contribute, and Parker just adds to that. You can slide him in at small forward, and have Denzel Valentine as your sixth man. Then the starting lineup of Dunn, LaVine, Parker, Wendell Carter Jr., and Markkanen can all grow and develop together.
