The Milwaukee Bucks still have a few decisions to make before the 2017-18 NBA season officially starts, one of which is Jabari Parker’s contract extension. The Bucks have until October 16 to decide if they want to keep the former No. 2 overall pick long-term now or take the risk of losing him in free agency next summer.
According to Senior NBA writer Zach Lowe of ESPN, the Bucks engaged in trade talks over the past several days with the hope of dumping the contracts of John Henson and Mirza Teletovic. However, none of the negotiations gained much traction because teams wanted Milwaukee to include additional assets in the trade package in exchange for absorbing these burdensome contracts.
The Bucks are trying to create enough room to sign Parker to a multi-year contract extension. Milwaukee cannot afford to sign Parker without dumping Henson and Teletovic – both earning $10.5 million each this coming season – as it would put them over the luxury tax threshold.
Parker’s injury timetable
Parker is expected to miss the first half of the 2017-18 NBA season as he continues to recover from a second ACL injury. Lowe reported that Parker will likely return in February at the earliest. The former Duke Blue Devils standout was enjoying a breakout year (20.1 points on 49 percent FG shooting, with 6.2 rebounds in 51 games) but a torn ACL in his left knee ended a promising campaign midway into the 2016-17 season.
Talent-wise, few would argue that Parker deserves a max contract. However, durability is the biggest drawback in his career, as he appeared in just 152 games over three seasons. In fact, Parker’s history with injuries has been the major sticking point in the extension talks with the Bucks.
Make or break for Hoiberg
The Chicago Bulls might have finally embraced rebuilding, but Fred Hoiberg may not be part of that plan.
The Bulls have gone from a perennial playoff contender in the East to a potential cellar-dweller after essentially gutting their roster last season. Still, Hoiberg will face enormous pressure to accomplish several goals this season.
Dan Feldman of NBC Sports named Hoiberg as one of the three coaches who could lose their job during the season.
New Orleans Pelicans’ Alvin Gentry and New York Knicks’ Jeff Hornacek are the other coaches believed to be on the bubble.
“Maybe teaching young players will better suit the former college coach, but the NBA is still a different animal. If Hoiberg stumbles in this task, what reason will there be to keep him around?” Feldman stressed in his recent article.
