NBA free agency 2017: 5 offseason needs for the Milwaukee Bucks

Apr 15, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd during a break in the action against the Toronto Raptors in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Milwaukee defeated Toronto 97-83. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Jabari Parker making progress from torn ACL

In his first and third NBA seasons, Parker has played as many games combined (76) as he did on his second campaign. Tearing the same ACL twice will do that, but Parker showed what he could do when he was fully healthy in 2015-16 (14.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game). Over the final 30 games of that season, the Duke product averaged 18.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. In 51 games this year, Parker averaged 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Any Milwaukee lineup with both Parker and Middleton on the floor together would likely be very good. But Middleton returning from a preseason injury in the same game Parker injured his knee, the two were never on the floor together this season. By comparison, the five of the Bucks’ six most-deployed lineups in 2015-16 had Middleton and Parker in them.

Parker would surely be a legitimate second fiddle to “The Greek Freak”, if he can come back close to full strength. Two tears of the same ACL is a unique circumstance, and stands to diminish what Parker can do athletically.

Back in March, Parker said he hopes to play 40-50 games next season. That may be a best-case scenario, but if he’s at full capacity for a prospective playoff run the Bucks will be happy.

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