The Milwaukee Bucks failed to come to terms on an extension with Jabari Parker, meaning the forward will be a restricted free agent next summer.
Considering the position that both parties find themselves in, any agreement on an extension between Jabari Parker and the Milwaukee Bucks seemed unlikely, and that’s exactly how things have ultimately played out.
With the deadline for offering early extensions to players coming off their rookie scale contracts expiring at 5pm ET on Monday afternoon, there was no announcement of a deal between the Bucks and their second overall pick from the 2014 NBA Draft.
Confirmation that there was no deal completed came from both Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Jabari Parker and Milwaukee Bucks ended talks, no deal. He'll enter restricted free agency in July, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 16, 2017
No deal between the Bucks and Jabari Parker per source. He's under contract this season and will be a restricted free agent next summer.
— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) October 16, 2017
Currently rehabbing after his second torn ACL in three seasons, there wasn’t going to be an easy and obvious route for Parker and the Bucks to agree to deal.
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From Parker’s perspective, fellow draft classmate Joel Embiid agreed to a five-year, $148 million extension with the Philadelphia 76ers last week. Although that deal includes a number of conditions that can cover the Sixers if their own injury prone young star has further problems, a deal that was palatable to both sides was still completed.
On the other side of the coin, the Bucks can be forgiven for wanting to see how Parker recovers from his second case of an injury that can often have a devastating impact on NBA careers, before committing significant money to him in the longer term.
If Parker was anxious to just get some form of security on his long-term future, perhaps there could have been a route for both sides to agree on a more modest deal, but that was always likely to favor the team more than the player.
In comparing Parker’s case with that of Embiid, it’s also worth noting just how different Milwaukee’s negotiating position is in comparison to Philadelphia’s. Giannis Antetokounmpo has already shown himself to be a cornerstone piece and a legitimate superstar, regardless of how Parker’s career plays out from here, while as for Philadelphia it’s still Embiid who is their leading light.
This doesn’t necessarily mean Parker’s time with the Bucks is destined to come to an end sooner rather than later, as although he will have the chance to field offers from around the league this summer, Milwaukee will have the option to match any deal.
Saying that, Tony Snell, Miles Plumlee and Khris Middleton have all been examples of Bucks’ restricted free agents from recent years who have agreed to re-sign without even signing offer sheets with another team.
Speaking about where he hopes his long-term future will lie and the pressures of a contract year at the team’s recent media day, Parker said:
"“I just focus on what I can improve and I try to erase all the distractions and the outside noise, because my life is on the line, and I want to get better.This is where I want to be, but at this point, it’s not my choice.”"
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Now, it’s up to Parker to complete a successful recovery and come back strong before discussions reconvene over just how much his next deal should see him earn.