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Chicago Bulls: Signing Jabari Parker is a good bet, but a strange fit

By Michael Saenz

MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 22: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates after hitting a shot against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 22, 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 Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 22: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates after hitting a shot against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 22, 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 Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Signing Jabari Parker to a two-year deal is a good bet, but somewhat of a strange fit for the Chicago Bulls

Missing the playoffs two of the last three years, there was urgency inside the Chicago Bulls front office to improve their team, quickly. After trading away Jimmy Butler last summer, the team was clearly heading into a rebuild.

The hope is that they’ve turned the corner in that aspect.

And that hope is now tied into Zach LaVine, who just signed a four-year, $78 million contract, and Jabari Parker, who will sign a two-year, $40 million deal with the Chicago Bulls. While we’ve talked at nauseam about LaVine already, there is multiple angles to tackle the Parker news.

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On the surface, signing Parker to a two-year deal seems like a good bet. He’s just 23 years old and only one season removed from averaging 20 points and six rebounds per game with the Milwaukee Bucks. He’s extremely talented and hasn’t even scratched the surface on the player that he can be.

The big problem, however, is that Parker, with these Bulls, is somewhat of an awkward fit. At the very least, it won’t be seamless.

When Parker is at his best, he’s playing the power forward position. The big problem with that is Chicago has rising star Lauri Markkanen, and Bobby Portis, right now holding down those spots in the depth chart. They also just drafted Wendell Carter Jr., who can play the power forward or center position. Adding Parker would be over-saturation at the position.

Per reports, though, it seems like the Bulls understood this and their big master plan is to play Parker at the…get this…small forward position.

The issue with Parker at the small forward position is the fact that he’s, for the lack of better words, terrible as a small forward. As is pointed out poetically by Dan FaVale:

https://twitter.com/danfavale/status/1017899754007736320

That’s not to say that Jabari Parker doesn’t have the skills to play the position, because he does. Parker shot a career-high 38 percent from 3-point range last season. He can stretch the floor and be a legit threat on the perimeter.

The problem, though, is on the defensive end where he’s bad – and even worse against quicker, faster small forwards.

Parker can be OK on defense against bigger, slower players. However, when you’re asking him to check the likes of Kevin Durant and LeBron James, he almost has no chance on that end of the floor, which is one of the biggest reasons why he hasn’t been able to play the position in the past.

It’s going to be an issue with the Bulls too, no question.

Despite all that, paying a 23-year-old talent $20 million for essentially one season (considering that the second year of the deal is a team option) isn’t a terrible risk to take. If it doesn’t work and the team wants to move on, or get out from paying him another $20 million in year 2, they could just opt out of the deal. No harm, no foul.

Must Read: Why the Denver Nuggets will be one of the most interesting teams in 2018-19

Signing Parker is a good bet. It’s a high reward, low risk type of move for a team that is trying to find a new core like the Chicago Bulls. Still, that doesn’t explain the terrible fit that it has created for Fred Hoiberg.

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