Atlanta Hawks: How Will Jabari Parker Fare in 2019-20?
By Chris Guest
A quick look at thoughts on how Jabari Parker’s season with the Atlanta Hawks will go in 2019-20.
After being drafted second overall in 2014 by the Milwaukee Bucks, who already had a future MVP on the roster in Giannis Antetokounmpo – who had been drafted 13 spots lower in the prior year’s draft – Jabari Parker had some solid seasons interspersed with injuries and down years in which he didn’t live up to his immense potential. Now in his sixth season, Parker is a member of the Atlanta Hawks.
When Parker’s signing was announced there was a fair amount of confusion and consternation among NBA fans and Hawks fans alike. Parker’s best skill is fairly high-usage scoring (career usage rate of 23.4 percent per Basketball Reference), which is a role that was filled capably by Trae Young in his rookie season.
How exactly would Parker find minutes on a team that needs defense far more than it needs offense?
According to a recent Bleacher Report article by Jonathan Wasserman, Parker will find it tough to actually make an impact with the Atlanta Hawks and is more likely to “fall out of favor” with the team than find himself as an entrenched member of the team’s rotation.
“Parker’s ceiling in Atlanta would have him functioning as John Collins‘ regular backup, but even rookies De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish, wings/forwards with far more upside and defensive tools, could become more attractive to head coach Lloyd Pierce,” Wasserman said in his story.
Indeed, both rookies that were drafted by the Hawks will (hopefully) receive more minutes than Parker at the wing positions. Though Parker is still only 24, it seems to be an “old 24” due to Parker’s injury history and troubled stints with the Bucks, Bulls and Wizards.
Perhaps on a steadier team on the upswing like the Hawks, Parker will calm some of his gunning instincts and serve only as an off-ball weapon and closeout-attacker to aid Trae Young’s ball dominance.
Next. Wilkins Thinks Jabari is "Amazing Young Player". dark
Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: The season can’t get here soon enough!