Jabari Parker Makes the Atlanta Hawks Offense More Dynamic

The Atlanta Hawks continue to improve their team this offseason. The latest addition Jabari Parker, gives the club another dynamic offensive option.

The Atlanta Hawks signing of Jabari Parker was a bit surprising. Having lost center Dewayne Dedmon to the Sacramento Kings, most Atlanta Hawks fans and writers who cover the team, expected the club to sign a center.

Instead the Atlanta Hawks have signed combo forward Jabari Parker to a two-year deal. The deal is worth a total of 13 million dollars. They second year of the deal includes a player option, that would allow Parker to test free agency again next season, should he play well.

I have long been a fan of the Atlanta Hawks signing former lottery picks as reclamation projects. Jabari certainly fits that bill, having been selected number two overall the 2014 NBA Draft.

Parker, who played college basketball at Duke University, was a heralded prospect, who was talked about long before he reached the NBA. According to 247 Sports, Parker who hails from Chicago, was the number six recruit in his class.

College Career

Jabari lived up to his billing in college, averaging 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds in his lone season at Duke. He was named ACC rookie of the year and first team All ACC. He was also a consensus NCAA All American.

At the conclusion of Jabari Parker’s college career, he had risen to be the popular choice to go number two in the NBA Draft, with an argument to be the first pick over Andrew Wiggins. He was indeed drafted second by the Milwaukee Bucks.