Fansided

NBA Free Agency 2018: 20 best players available

By Micah Wimmer

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 26: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks runs across the court in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 26, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jabari Parker
MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 26: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks runs across the court in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 26, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jabari Parker /

12. Jabari Parker

Despite just finishing his fourth season in the NBA, fans and executives still are not quite sure what to make of Jabari Parker. Has he just had bad injury luck, tearing his ACL twice in three years? Can he still be the star he was projected to be in light of those past injury troubles? No one really knows, and well there’s good arguments to be made regarding both Parker’s promise or lack thereof, they still remain speculative, however well-founded.

When he was drafted, the Bucks had no idea that Giannis Antetokounmpo would end up becoming the All-NBA player and franchise centerpiece he is today. In fact, the hope was that Parker would be what Giannis is now. On the one hand, you have a lowered sense of expectations mixed in with a tinge of disappointment on the other that makes one wonder if the Bucks may not be too sad to end this fraught chapter and just move on.

Parker is not a bad player by any means. In his third season, he averaged over twenty points per game and looked like the embodiment of a modern stretch forward with his shooting range expanding beyond the three point line. But then the second ACL tear happened and that progress was undercut. His return to the court this last season seemed like a step back, and in the Playoffs, he complained about his playing time and one wonders if he is discontent being the supporting player rather than the centerpiece he was originally drafted to be.

It will be interesting to see what the market for Parker ends up being, and if the Bucks will be willing to match the inevitable offer sheet from other teams. There’s certainly reasons to justify a large investment in him as well as an equal number of reasons to be wary of doing so. Both bad teams with little to lose and middle of the pack teams looking for that missing piece are likely to look closely at Parker in the coming weeks.

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