Fansided

NBA Trade Deadline 2019: 5 only mildly depressing trades for Jabari Parker

By Josh Ejnes

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 16: Jabari Parker #2 of the Chicago Bulls walks backcourt during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on November 16, 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 16: Jabari Parker #2 of the Chicago Bulls walks backcourt during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on November 16, 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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BROOKLYN, NY – DECEMBER 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Russell Westbrook #0 and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 5, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Thunder defeated the Nets 114-112. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – DECEMBER 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Russell Westbrook #0 and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 5, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Thunder defeated the Nets 114-112. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

5. Oklahoma City Thunder

Right now the Oklahoma City Thunder are not in a comfortable position.

Hampered by Russell Westbrook’s shooting woes the team has struggled to gain momentum throughout the season, and they currently sit on the playoff contention bubble as the eight seed in the Western Conference.

The Thunder bench has failed to pick up much of the slack for Westbrook. Their 31.2 point per game puts them in the bottom five of the league as far as bench offense is concerned, though to be fair they’re also ranked near the bottom of the league in minutes per game. Still, if they were a more dependable squad they’d likely see more time on the floor.

Although he’s not the most obvious choice Parker might be the solution to the Thunders’ problems. So far this season Dennis Schroeder has been the only real dependable scoring option for the team off the bench, but he’s kind of hampered by the fact that he’s, well, the only real dependable scoring option off the bench.

Schroeder is for sure a shoot-first point guard, and that style of play is most effective when defenders also have to respect the fact that you might pass the ball. Adding Jabari to the Thunder bench equation gives him a bully ball option down low to dish to, and really gives the teams as whole the chance to open up their offense.

Parker admitted that accepting a bench role in Chicago wasn’t easy, but being out of the starting line up is a much easier pill to swallow when you’re on a team with realistic playoff chances. If he embraced the role he could thrive, and he and the Thunder would be better off for the move.

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