Free agent forward Jabari Parker has agreed to a two-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks, according to Shams Charania of the Athletic.
Parker played 25 games with the Washington Wizards last season after being traded along with Bobby Portis for Otto Porter Jr. in February.
In Washington, Parker averaged 15.0 points and 7.2 rebounds, while shooting 52.3% from the field. The Wizards declined the team option of $20 million on Parker’s second year of his contract, making him a free agent.
With John Wall sidelined with a torn Achilles, the Wizards have embarked on a rebuild. They’ve shade long-term commitments outside of Wall while focusing on interesting Bradley Beal to re-sign with the team beyond the 2021 when his current contract expires.
The Wizards also are trying to avoid the NBA luxury tax line for the second straight season. Currently, they are at the tip of the line being roughly $4.1 million shy of the threshold, according to Spotrac.
At $6.5 million per season that Parker signed for, the Wizards couldn’t afford that without additional transactions.
Parker joins Portis, Trevor Ariza, Tomas Satoransky, and Jeff Green as players from last season’s Wizards team to sign elsewhere this summer in free agency.
Washington already has addressed the departure of Jabari Parker, drafting Rui Hachimura with the ninth overall pick in last month’s draft to fill the opening at forward. Hachimura possesses similar skills set as Parker that will allow him to be interchangeable at the three and four spots.
