NBA Free Agency: Bulls showing interest in hometown hero Jabari Parker
As the market for Jabari Parker starts to take shape, the Chicago Bulls seem ready to throw their hat in the ring.
This side of some bigger names, there may no more interesting NBA free agent this year than Jabari Parker. The No. 2 overall pick in 2014 has had his career derailed by two left ACL tears, but when fully healthy his potential has been abundantly clear. As his market starts to take shape, Alex Kennedy of Hoops Hype has reported the Chicago Bulls have interest in Parker.
The Milwaukee Bucks extended him a qualifying offer, so Parker is officially a restricted free agent and they can match any offer sheet another team signs him to. But with significant commitments already, it’s easy to see that becoming too expensive for the Bucks if a team with ample salary cap space prepares a big offer sheet. On that note, via Gery Woelfel, one NBA executive think Parker could get offers in the neighborhood of $20 million per year.
It’s safe to say the Duke product will not lack for suitors. The Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings have all been mentioned alongside the Bulls. Hypothetical sign-and-trade scenarios open up more potential suitors.
I'm told that Jabari Parker, who was born and raised in Chicago, has received interest from the Chicago Bulls. The 23-year-old is a restricted free agent, so the Milwaukee Bucks can match any offer sheet he signs.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 1, 2018
Parker was born and raised in Chicago, as Kennedy alluded to, where he starred at Simeon, so it may be a special place for him that stands above other potential suitors if money is equal. The Bulls have the cap space to make it next to impossible for the Bucks to match a top-end offer sheet, and stand above other outside suitors ready with offer sheets. If they want to, of course.
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The status of their own restricted free agent, guard Zach LaVine, has to be tied to the Bulls’ interest in and ability to make a big offer to Parker. But adding a 23-year old with superstar potential, and some playoff experience, to one of the youngest rosters in the NBA last year is too good an opportunity to turn away from for Chicago.