JULY 14: The Bucks did not rescind their qualifying offer to Parker by Friday’s deadline, tweets Matt Velazquez of the Journal Sentinel. While Parker remains a restricted free agent, it remains unlikely that he returns to Milwaukee given Chicago’s expected offer, Velazquez adds.
JULY 13, 6:49pm: Chicago is close to signing Parker on a short-term deal, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.
5:17pm: The Bulls are progressing on an offer sheet to Bucks restricted free agent forward Jabari Parker, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. A number of topics are still been discussed by Chicago’s front office and Parker’s representatives, Wojnarowski adds.
The Bucks would have 48 hours to match any offer that Parker might receive. However, it appears that if Chicago truly wants Parker, Milwaukee won’t go to great lengths to keep him. The Bucks are unlikely to match an offer sheet for Parker, according to a follow-up story by Wojnarowski. In fact, Milwaukee has mulled the possibility of pulling Parker’s qualifying offer and making him an unrestricted free agent.
This would go a long way toward explaining the Bulls’ recent moves. Chicago has been clearing cap space in recent days by trading Jerian Grant, waiving Sean Kilpatrick, and withdrawing David Nwaba‘s qualifying offer. The Bulls could open up as much as $20.6MM in cap space if they also renounced Noah Vonleh‘s rights and waive Paul Zipser and Julyan Stone, ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets.
The Bucks would have to clear salary in order to avoid moving into luxury-tax territory if they chose to match a competitive offer sheet to Parker, Marks notes in another tweet.
Parker is a Chicago native and has been linked to the Bulls in multiple reports.
With Lauri Markkanen entrenched at power forward, the Bulls apparently view Parker as a solution at small forward. The 6’8” Parker, who has suffered two major knee injuries in his young career, averaged 12.6 PPG and 4.9 RPG in 31 games last season after returning from his latest injury.
If the Bulls sign Parker, and Milwaukee doesnt match for whatever reason, one of Carter jr or Markannen needs to come off the bench. You can use Markannen more for his scoring there, so I would start Carter over him
Dunn, Lavine, Hutchinson, Parker, Carter jr
Valentine, Markannen, Holiday, Portis, Blackeny off the bench…needs another wing. I dont think that’s bad, but I think there are probably better fits. Also, the Bulls currently project to have $40 million in cap space next year, in a big free agent year, and with a lot of expiring contracts around the league to potentially pick up more assets, so they might be better off holding on to that
Jabari has really improved his 3 pt shot over the last few years. If the lateral quickness is there, he can play SF. Lauri and/or Carter won’t be coming off the bench. If the Bulls didn’t feel he could play the 3, they wouldn’t attempt to sign him, they’d turn their attention to Hood. I’ve always been a fan of the hometown kid, I like the idea of signing him.
He can play the 3 in spurts, but in general he is best at the 4. I feel like he improved defensively the year he was healthy, as his athleticism improved from when his body wasnt in great shape coming out of college, but it remains to be seen if he can get back to that. And improve further, and it remains to be seen if he can guard on the wing
Dude, there’s absolutely zero chance Markannen or Carter Jr. is coming off the bench.
Amen.
Buttler has turned down the T’wolves contract extension…. Has always said he’d come back to Chicago. Wants to play with Irving too….
Irving-Lavine-Buttler-Parker-Markannen
That’s a nice thought. But because the Bulls resigned Lavigne they now only have room for 1 max deal next off season.
Bucks won’t let him go. They will match or sign and trade
They are hard capped, and cannot match a significant offer. Chicago has cleared enough cap room that if they didn’t want Milwaukee to match, it wouldn’t be an issue.
After the Lopez and Ilyasova deals, they can’t match anything over 10 mil without hitting the tax apron. Something I doubt a small market team that’s not contending would do.
Hard to ‘not contend’ when you have a unicorn MVP-level talent and several other talented players.
Are they going to win the title anytime in the next 5 years? No. That equals not contending.
@Bryzzo. See OKC and their spend. Denver as well – which is why they made that deal with the Nets.
Parker is a bad fit, bottom line
When you’re a lottery team, the only bad fit would be a locker room cancer or a long term deal to an aging vet. I get that he’d take minutes from Markkanen and Carter, but a bad team can use all the high upside talent it can get.
Imo, the Bulls are really just betting against injury here. With LaVine, the Bulls only had about $50 mil in cap space next summer, which is enough for 1 max free agent and maybe 2 role players. They should still have enough money to make 1 max offer. But given how many teams will have space a year from now, even if the Bulls got lucky and signed a star, it’s unlikely they’d be able to land a 24-year old with star potential with the remaining space.
If he’s coming off the bench, it’s a good deal. If he’s starting a SF, it’s a questionable move. He’s young so…
I think Clark Jr. ends up stealing the starting job, if not by season opener then definitely by the break, the kids too athletic not to, Markkanen will be an all star and will start at the PF & both Lavine/Dunn round out the starters so that put Parker at SF. He’s played there before. The interesting thing will be the match from the Bucks and it will most likely end up a sign and trade
Bucks have to be operating with a hard cap, unless some deals were reported wrong. There’s likely a number they can’t match, at least without stretching another contract. Not worth Bulls time if they’re preparing a offer sheet that’s likely to be matched.
Totally agree with emax, Markkanen will be an all-star there is no way he can be put in the bench, right now he is by far Chicago’s best player, the next one will probably be WCJ, then come Dunn, ZLV…
Wonder if Markannen is untouchable?
No one is “untouchable,” but realistically Markkanen isn’t going anywhere anytime soon..I’d instantly bet anyone anything they offered that said anything otherwise.
$18-$20m is ridiculous, no way.
I don’t think anyone is untouchable but when your building a team a big who can shoot the 3 is a nice price to build around ….
Piece ****
Everything gets switched anyway, so whether he’s a traditional 4 or he can play the 3 doesn’t really matter. Markannen is not sitting, I doubt they’d sit Carter either. It would look something like this …
PG Dunn/Payne
SG Lavine/Holliday/Hutch
SF Parker/Valentine/Hutch
PF Markannen/Portis
C Carter/Lopez/Feliciano/Portis
Personally, I think Lopez gets moved, perhaps even Feliciano but anyway, I like that young core moving forward, especially in the East. IF Milwaukee matches, which I doubt they can, I see the Bulls turning to Hood with an offer sheet.
I think the Bucks only have 17M to work with, the Bulls around 19-20M so they maybe able to price the Bucks out completely
Yeah, I think it’s a good fit especially if it’s indeed a short term deal. Let him prove his health and that he can play SF. If he checks both boxes they can re sign the hometown kid. He didn’t seem like a great fit with Giannas (no way I spelled that right) So I doubt the Bucks would pay luxury tax to match an offer sheet
Actually emax, after the Lopez and IIyasova deals, they only have about 10 mil to play with.
I think Lopez is the odd man out……. he’s not worth the 12M when you got Carter Jr playing the majority of the minutes & Feliciano makin 500K
Felicio is making a lot more then 500k. He’s making close to 8 million. They gave him a 4 year contract worth 32 mil last off season
As a bucks fan I hope Parker goes to the bulls he just isn’t a good fit with the Greek freak. I think with the Bulls he might get closer to his potential. Good luck Parker!
I love it if it’s indeed a short term deal. Give him a chance to prove he can play the 3, stay healthy and mesh well with the Baby Bulls. If he does, the Bulls can re-sign the hometown kid to a longer contract. WIN WIN!
Spot on, plus they’d also maintain their cap flexibility for next year as well..I’d offer Parker the one year deal, with a mutual option for 2019. That way, if the Bulls could somehow pull off a miracle and sign two lax players, then they could decline Parker’s option..
Or, they could sign one max player, and accept Parker’s option, while trying to work out a long-term deal if he proves he can stay healthy and mesh well with the Bulls’ young core of Dunn, LaVine, Valentine, Hutchison, Markkanen, Portis, and Wendell Carter Jr…
A big rotation of Parker, Markkanen, Portis, and Carter Jr. Could be absolutely dynamic moving forward..Starting Markkanen and Carter Jr., with Parker and Portis coming off the bench would be one of the most versatile, athletic, and most talented, well-rounded 4-man big rotations in the East..I don’t think any other team could match-up with those 4, but their success is still primarily going to hinge on the growth of Dunn, LaVine, and Valentine. Not to mention, primarily the developing threesome’s ability to provide efficient, all-around games, without turning the ball over, and their ability to be counted on for points on a nightly basis…
However, even though it isn’t how Hoi berg typically runs his offense, he might decide it is in the Bulls’ best interest to run their offense through Markkanen, Carter Jr., and Parker. All three are very capable at passing, have Hugh basketball IQ’s, and all three can definitely score when their team needs a basket..
Idk, Im mostly just spitballing here, regatdleso though, adoing Parker will unquestionably add ta lent to this roster. Young and talented players aren’t easily found in the NBA, so when you’re a young, rebuilding team, if you get the chance, you definitely take that chance.
Agreed Bravesfan88
I’m honestly just shocked the Bulls front office is actually doing something with their cap space and savings. More often than not, they make moves to save money, only to let that money sit there and go to waste..
So yeah, considering my initial expectations, adding a Chicago native and a talent like Jabari Parker, well that would just be absolutely unbelievable!!
Bulls now seem much smarter. Bucks look stupid signing Ersan instead.
Especially when they got Lopez for almost nothing later on
I’m not sure the Bucks will be that disappointed if Parker leaves. The Parker-Giannis duo did not light up.
The Bulls do look smart now… but if signing Lavine & Parker blocks an Irving & Butler “get” next year… No, they’re right, get it now.
If we had a good gm(jury still out), we’d be talking to the bulls already about a sign and trade. Get something! Danny ainge would get their first round pick next year. The rumor also is that the bulls are making it short term. If it’s a 3 year, 2, year or one year deal why not match it?
You’d think the Bulls would be a little gun-shy of signing a former great player with multiple knees injuries… Does Rose ring a bell?
Instead of the Sixers horsing around with Kawhi Leonard, why not go and get Jabari Parker?
SMH
They do not have the cap space to do so. They gave 13M to JJ and used the rest on Amir 1.5M, Bjelica 4M, Chandler 12M.