I’d take Jabari Parker, RIGHT NOW, on the Bucks. The Kings season is over, right? Everyone’s saying they’re done, so I’m going to believe them. That means that Parker’s services aren’t being used by anyone right now, just rotting away, going to waste. Why shouldn’t the Bucks pick him up?
Your answer to that question cannot include the words “CBA”, “contract” or “defense”.
I’m still sad at how Parker’s time in Milwaukee turned out. He was supposed to be stud of the future, and he kinda was, for a little bit there in between catastrophic injuries. Sure, he made some comments about defense that were questionable, and he backed those comments up by not playing any defense, but MAN, he was a bucket personified.
I think the Bucks are going to be fine in the playoffs this season, but having an instant-offense scorer coming off the bench would give them that little push they need to go from “Winning the chip” to “Winning the chip while sweeping every series”. The Bucks’ bench, at this point, is maybe a bit lacking in pure bucket-getting. Lots of dudes who need stuff set up for them. All Parker needs is the ball, and the green light.
If he doesn’t get acquired by the Bucks (which is sadly looking like it will be the case), at least this monster (by his Kings standards) performance in the season finale will persuade the Kings to keep him around, possibly. And with how screwed up the Kings are in all respects, who knows? Maybe he can average 20 again next year.