After getting a rare chance to play Saturday night, Jabari Parker told Mike Sorensen of The Deseret News that he has thought about coming to Utah as a way out of his current situation in Chicago. Parker already has strong ties to the area, owning a house near Salt Lake City. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and considered playing at BYU before going to Duke.
“Yeah, I have. I already have a home here, and I visit here frequently,” Parker responded when asked if he has thought of joining the Jazz.
There’s been no recent indication that Utah is interested in acquiring Parker and his $20MM salary, though a mid-December report linked the two sides. Parker was sent to the end of the Bulls’ bench when coach Jim Boylen took over, reportedly because of poor defense and attitude issues. Injuries gave him a chance on Saturday and he responded with 11 points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes.
“It’s nothing that can be explained, just his gut feeling,” Parker said of Boylen’s decision to bench him. “I’ve just got to respect that. He’s the head coach, but I also want to do what’s best for me. Hopefully I can get somewhere where I can show my talent, and I can be treated accordingly, too.”
There’s more this morning from Chicago:
- Boylen only has a $1MM guarantee for next year on his new contract, according to an ESPN report, giving the organization some flexibility if it decides to go in a different direction. The new arrangement, which Boylen negotiated himself, will pay him $1.6MM this season, twice what he was getting as associate head coach under Fred Hoiberg. He will receive another $1.6MM if he lasts all of next season. “The Bulls have been very gracious to me and very supportive,” Boylen told Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune. “… They’re fair and honest and direct, and I respond to that well.” (Twitter link)
- Bobby Portis believes he has a reputation as a villain after last year’s fight with Nikola Mirotic, relays Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Portis claims referees have treated him differently since the skirmish, citing a play on Friday in which he alleges that the Warriors’ Kevin Durant grabbed his arm in an attempt to injure him. “I have that negative put on me like I’m a bad guy,’’ Portis said. “Obviously, everything is officiated differently towards me. You don’t care about that but it’s just what I made it cause of that incident last year. Everybody thinks I’m this bad guy when really I’m a really good dude. Image is everything, and I guess that’s what my image is.”
- Last week’s trade of Justin Holiday left a vacancy on the Bulls’ new leadership committee, Cowley tweets, adding that Kris Dunn is most likely to be appointed.
Did the Bulls draft Zion Williamson yet?
The Bulls aren’t getting Zion. He’ll end up in Cleveland or Phoenix most likely.
The Bulls aren’t getting the 1st pick, or well they really shouldn’t.
Also, unfortunately for the Bulls, even if they did, they really can’t draft Zion. Their primary core consists of Dunn (Combo Guard), LaVine (Shooting Guard), Markkanen (Stretch 4), Carter Jr. (Versatile Center), and Portis (Smallball Center/PF).
So, technically, the Bulls already have three guys in their core that play the 4 spot. Not to mention, they’re SEVERELY LACKING in the SF/Wing department.
That’s why the Bulls best decision, and their most ideal fit would be to draft the athletic and versatile RJ Barrett. Barrett would be the perfect compliment to the rest of their core.
Not only that, but much like Carter Jr., Barrett is also an excellent communicator on the court. Even though they’d be two of the younger guys on the team, they could help create a winning atmosphere moving forward.
I’ve advocated several times for the Bulls to draft Barrett on here, and for the sake of the loyal Chicago fan base I truly hope they get him. That fan base, despite their terrible owner and their egregiously inept Front Office, still remains loyal and comes out to watch this sh1tshow…They REALLY deserve a lot better, and since they aren’t going to get a new-upcoming coach, nor get rid of GarPax, the best start they can have is drafting Barrett, and surrounding their young core with some quality free agent, veteran additions.
Why are people declaring NOW how the pingpong balls will drop?
BTW, the Cavs are in the same boat as the Bulls are, needing a 3 more than a 4, so the Bulls could get “stuck” with Zion lol.
The Knicks though, could line up Zinger-Zion-Knox! Irving prob noticed
Would definitely take a flyer on Jabari if I’m the Jazz, but only if he gets bought out or Chicago attaches intriguing assets (Kris Dunn?) to him.
He would provide a different dimension to the offense, and Snyder is more than capable of maximizing him on that end while concealing him on defense.
I would also love to see Kevin Love on the Jazz. His rebounding, passing, and ability to stretch the floor would do wonders for Donovon Mitchell. Plus, he loves Park City and Utah’s outdoor offerings, so he would actually be happy to join the Jazz. Similar concerns to Jabari, however, so it’s all a matter of how much it’ll take to get either of them.
The Bulls need to add Kris Dunn w Parker to interest you in having the Jazz take a flyer? LOL! No chance. I suspect Parker will eventually end up in Utah, in fact possibly later this week once Derrick Favors becomes eligible to be traded (Jan 15).
Wow… Dumb.
Jabari has a team option after this season. Why would the Bulls buy him out? Or even dumber, attach Kris Dunn to getting rid of him?
Dunn is their point guard of the next half decade. The bulls wouldn’t trade him in a deal involving Parker.
Lol Bobby Portis, you like to hack people. No on remembers that fight, ‘cept maybe Niko.
“The Bulls leadership committee” lolaf
Gotta have 5 on it. 4 isn’t leadership!