The Washington Wizards will decline a team option on Jabari Parker for next season, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports.
Washington’s decision is expected as Parker would be set to make $20 million in 2019-20. Washington has until Jun. 29 deadline to officially make their decision. The Wizards currently need to shed salary to avoid the NBA’s luxury tax with $90 million committed in guaranteed salaries for next season with just five players signed.
Both the Wizards and Parker are interested in working out a new deal for at a lesser amount. Parker is expected to seek $15 million annually, according to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington.
Parker’s career has stalled for the most part in large due to two torn ACL’s in his left knee after being drafted second overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2014 NBA Draft.
After falling out of favor in Milwaukee, Parker signed a two-year deal with his hometown Bulls with the second-year being a team option but was ultimately traded to the Wizards along with Bobby Portis in a deal that sent Otto Porter to Chicago in February.
Parker enjoyed his time with the Wizards, according to Hughes. In 25 games, Parker averaged 15.0 points and 2.7 assists. Both were his highest since 2016-17 before his second ACL tear. He also shot a career-best 52.3 percent from the field and averaged 7.2 rebounds with the Wizards.
Jabari Parker adds to a list of pending free agents for the Wizards that include Tomas Satoransky, Thomas Bryant, Jeff Green, and Portis.
