Small forward Jabari Parker believes the Atlanta Hawks is a good situation for him.
Parker, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, signed a two-year, $13 million deal with the Hawks in free agency. The talented swingman is excited to play with point guard Trae Young and big man John Collins in Atlanta.
“It’s never promised that things are going to go well, but just from the energy that I’m feeling, it’s a good situation for me,” Parker told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. “Trae Young is someone who can not only score but distribute. John Collins is a very, very good player.
“I know the expectations. I can fulfill my role accordingly. I’m young, but they’re younger. One thing I take pride in is I’ve now been every player — from the first to last guy on the team. And I’m grateful for those experiences.”
Jabari Parker played for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards last season. He averaged 14.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 49.3 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from beyond the arc and 71.2 percent from the free-throw line.
Parker has always been a good scorer. He will certainly be asked to provide microwave scoring off the bench for the Hawks.
However, Parker has to play good defense if he wants to see consistent playing time in Atlanta.
The main reason Parker's stint with the Bulls was so short was because Chicago head coach Jim Boylen put Parker on the bench for not showing enough effort on the defensive end. If the Hawks want to make the playoffs next season, they will need Parker to be an effective player on both ends of the court.
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