Trade rumors keep on coming two days before the start of the 2017-18 NBA season. With a contract extension for Jabari Parker becoming unlikely before the Oct.16 deadline, Micah Adams of ESPN proposed a trade that would allow the Bucks to part ways with the promising young player in exchange for a potentially major piece in their championship puzzle.
Boogie Dream
In his 2017-18 NBA season preview article, Adams mentioned a handful of trades that will certainly pique anyone’s curiosity. The most noteworthy of these hypothetical trades, especially for Bucks fans, is the deal that would send Parker to the New Orleans Pelicans for a shot at perennial All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins.
Adams suggested a trade package centered on Parker and another disgruntled player John Henson will get the job done, at least on its financial aspect. The Bucks are on the clock to work out a rookie scale contract extension for Parker, though the player’s max contract demand has been a major sticking point in the negotiation.
The former No.2 was having a breakout year with the Bucks as he averaged 20.1 points on 49 percent FG shooting with 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game during the first half of the 2016-17 NBA season. Unfortunately, another ACL injury (left knee) ended his campaign and in the process compromised his ability to negotiate for a max deal.
On the other hand, Henson will pocket $11.3M for this season and is scheduled to get paid of roughly the same amount in the next two seasons.
The big man has expressed his frustrations with his current role on the team (no thanks to the emergence of versatile big Thon Maker) and reportedly asked the team for a trade.
Cousins meanwhile is in the last year of his deal worth $18M. He’s set to become an unrestricted free next summer, making him a flight risk for the Pelicans.
Should New Orleans feel the bigman won’t stay in Bayou long term, a trade will definitely happen before the trade deadline. The Pelicans cannot afford to lose Cousins without compensation after sending multiple assets to the Sacramento Kings last February.
Win-Win Deal
While the Pelicans would love to keep Cousins around, swapping the big for an up-and-coming small forward in Parker, despite his history with injuries, doesn’t seem a bad move. In fact, it’s a win-win deal for both teams. The Pelicans gets a potential cornerstone wing and some rim protection in Henson while the Bucks bolster their frontline with a go-to-bigman in Cousins.
