Behind the Bucks Pass
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End of deer list: 10 moments and milestones that defined the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2018

By Jordan Treske

DENVER, CO - November 11 : Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks high fives Tony Snell #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks on November 11, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - November 11 : Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks high fives Tony Snell #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks on November 11, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 26: (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 26: (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Parting ways with Jabari Parker

The hiring of Mike Budenholzer resolved one major question hanging over the Bucks during last year’s offseason. But the restricted free agency of Jabari Parker loomed over the franchise as they decided what’s best for the direction of the franchise from a personnel standpoint.

For how promising his arrival was billed as after he was selected with the second overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, various hurdles and stumbling blocks prevented Parker from enjoying any lasting success throughout his stay in Milwaukee.

That most notably came in the form of injuries as the Chicago native tore his left ACL on two separate occasions under eerily similar circumstances, the first coming 25 games into his rookie season and the second midway through what had been a breakthrough campaign during the 2016-17 year.

Because of that, it came as no surprise that the Bucks and Parker’s representation failed to come together on a rookie contract extension for the Duke product in the lead up to the start of the 2016-17 season, as he was in the throes of his rehabilitation following his second knee injury.

With the benefit of hindsight, that impasse certainly set the stage for what ended up being a bizarre, shortened season that was defined by Parker’s dissatisfaction in his contract negotiations, his workload during Games 1 and 2 under head coach Joe Prunty in the Bucks’ playoff series against the Boston Celtics and his murky future with the franchise in general.

Although his one-time running mate in Antetokounmpo stated that Parker would make his return to the franchise during his exit interview after the end of last season, the Bucks’ early free agency maneuverings last summer painted a different picture in that regard.

Soon enough and after another free agent addition coming in the form of veteran big man Brook Lopez, the writing was on the wall for Parker’s Bucks tenure. On July 14, the Bucks facilitated his homecoming to the Chicago Bulls by pulling his qualifying offer and making him an unrestricted free agent, a good faith move that was necessary in completing the transaction.

The early returns for this fork in the road-like moment have shined well on the Bucks’ part, considering their strong success to this point in the 2018-19 season and Parker’s homecoming is looking very short-lived as it’s being summed up by the same very grumblings and traits that summed up the end of his stay in Milwaukee.

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