Jazz Reportedly Have Interest In Acquiring Jabari Parker

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – According to The Ringer, the Utah Jazz have interest in Chicago Bulls forward Jabari Parker. Multiple reports have indicated that Parker is no longer a part of the Bulls primary rotation since former Utah coach Jim Boylen has taken over as head coach of the Bulls.

That news has led to the Bulls wanting to deal Parker to another team where he can contribute and help a team while getting minutes on the court.

Trade Derrick Favors

The only logical way that the Jazz can acquire Jabari Parker via trade is to deal Derrick Favors to Chicago. Favors is set to make $16.9 million this season with next season’s deal not guaranteed, he would be considered as a rental in Chicago. The problem is that the Bulls have a young and talented core of big men that include Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. as well as veterans Robin Lopez and Bobby Portis.

Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors look for the rebound during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 8, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. ((Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images))

Favors can’t be traded until January 15 because he was re-signed by the Jazz as a free agent and the signees can’t be traded for the first three months of the season. He is the only Jazz player that could be traded that is getting paid over $10 million that Utah would be willing to part with. Rudy Gobert ($23.2 million), Ricky Rubio ($15 million) and Joe Ingles ($13 million) are the others but doesn’t look like they will be dealt.

Parker will make $20 million this season which makes it very difficult to be traded to Utah because his contract would put the Jazz over the luxury tax threshold.

Derrick Favors was asked at shoot-around his thoughts on the trade rumor.

Derrick Favors reacts to Utah’s recent trade rumors involving Jabari Parker: “I have fun with it. I enjoy it. Definitely use it as motivation, but I have fun with it most of the time because most of the time I look forward it. Like, ‘Who I’m going to get traded for this year?’” pic.twitter.com/JFY86PE844

— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) December 17, 2018

This season, Favors is averaging 11.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in 29 games.

Buyout Contract

In order for this to work, Parker would have to come to an agreement with the Bulls as to how much to lose on his contract which he signed a two-year $40 million with the Bulls in the off-season. It is unlikely that Parker would receive his full $40 million on a buyout and it is unknown how much he would demand to be included in his buyout.

If he did receive a buyout from the Bulls, he would become an unrestricted free agent and the Jazz could sign him that way without giving up any key assets.

Parker currently averages 15.2 points and 6.9 rebounds this season but played only four minutes against Orlando on December 13 and did not see the court at all on December 15 against San Antonio. He spent the previous four seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks.