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Bucks’ Jabari Parker will be ready to play in training camp

By Tom West

Dec 7, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) dunks the ball during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Bucks 125-102. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) dunks the ball during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Bucks 125-102. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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After playing just 25 games in a rookie season that was destined for great potential, Jabari Parker is now returning to participate in the Milwaukee Bucks training camp.

In the 2014-15 NBA season, Jabari Parker of the Milwaukee Bucks was expected to be in a two-horse race to become Rookie of the Year against first overall pick Andrew Wiggins. Yet, after suffering an ACL tear on Dec. 15, Parker was forced to sit the rest of the season and played just 25 games. As the Bucks continue their rise as an elite defensive team and look set to begin the upcoming season with a new set of jerseys and a new star in Greg Monroe, though, Parker is almost ready to join the party.

It’s extremely exciting news for Bucks fans and general basketball fans alike, and Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has now reported that Jabari Parker will be ready to participate in training camp next week:

"General manager John Hammond said Tuesday at the team’s annual golf outing that [Jabari] Parker will be able to participate in training camp, which opens next week in Madison.But the extent of his participation is to be determined and it’s clear the Bucks will handle Parker, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 draft, with extreme care.“We’ve never had a target date, per se,” Hammond said at the River Club of Mequon, site of the team’s event to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Wisconsin. “We’ve always said he’s making progress.“Wherever he’s at, if we think he can play 30 minutes, we’ll probably have him play 15. Wherever it might be, I think we’re always going to be cautious with him.”"

As general manager John Hammond made very clear, the Bucks aren’t going to rush Parker back to a big role and heavy playing time. After an injury as severe as an ACL tear that has sidelined Parker since the end of 2014, they need to take their time and make the most of wing players such as Khris Middleton, Chris Copeland, O.J. Mayo and Michael Carter-Williams in the meantime.

Parker may have been drafted as an NBA ready player, due to his strong 6’8″, 235 lbs frame, rebounding, scoring, and versatility to play at both forward positions, but the Bucks need to be patient when bringing him back. Which is why it makes perfect sense for Hammond to sound so tentative when discussing his role as training camp rapidly approaches.

Furthermore, the signing of Greg Monroe gives the Bucks an entirely new dynamic to their offense, as they have a legitimate post-scorer and interior threat to feed the ball to (who averaged 15.9 points and a career best 10.2 rebounds per game last season). Meaning that no matter how Parker’s 15 points per 36 minutes on 49 percent shooting could have developed last season, he isn’t as fundamental to their offense as he was this time last year.

Regardless of how long it takes Jabari Parker to get back to full health, though, it’s more than encouraging that he’ll be ready to partake in some organized basketball and begin finding form after so much missed time.

As he gains another chance to prove himself in what should be a longer season in his sophomore year, Parker may be able to emerge as an anchor of the Bucks’ offense to help take them to another level in the weak Eastern conference.

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