Milwaukee Bucks ‘thrilled’ with Jabari Parker
It seems hard to believe but with a record of 38-44, the Milwaukee Bucks were a playoff team in the 2012-2013. Of course, they then lost J.J. Redick to the Los Angeles Clippers in a three team sign-and-trade that sent guard Eric Bledsoe from the Clippers to the Phoenix Suns and lost guard Monta Ellis to the Dallas Mavericks in free agency. The Bucks were the worst team in basketball last season, finishing with a record of 15-67. Although they did not win the draft lottery, they may have gotten the top prospect on their board anyway when they selected former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker.
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Bill Ingram of Basketball Insiders reports the Bucks are “thrilled” with Parker.
"I can tell you the Bucks are thrilled with Parker now that they’ve had him for a month. They believe he is the franchise player they have been waiting for, and Kidd agrees. I understand the question, but I think Parker is the real deal and Milwaukee will be considerably better this season."
With Parker, their lottery pick from last year, swingman Giannis Antetokounmpo, big man Larry Sanders (if he gets head on straight and gets healthy) and guard Brandon Knight, the Bucks actually have a lot of young talent to build around and could take leap in the next few seasons.
Parker averaged 19.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 47.3% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc and 74.8% from the free throw line for the Blue Devils last season. The last time Parker was officially measured, he came in at 6’8.5 and 240 lbs. with a wingspan of 6’11.5 at the Kevin Durant Camp in 2013.
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