SAN ANTONIO _ Jabari Parker became trade-eligible at 11:01 p.m. Friday. Saturday marked the first full day that free agents who signed in July could be dealt.
In advance of the date, the Tribune reported on Friday that the Bulls already had begun making calls to gauge Parker's trade value and that Parker was open to a deal. That possibility gained momentum, sources said, when Parker's representative, Chicago-based Mark Bartelstein, expressed interest in working with the Bulls to find an amicable resolution to Parker's situation.
New Bulls coach Jim Boylen removed Parker from the rotation because of poor defensive effort and individual offensive play, sources said. Several teams have contacted the Bulls to express interest in Parker and begin preliminary talks, sources said. With both sides amenable to a trade, there's incentive to finalize a deal sooner rather than later.
Until then, Parker has stayed on the high road.
"I chose to come here," Parker said of his two-year, $40 million free- agent contract that carries a team option for the second season. "I did everything I can to prove that I belong here. And I'm going to continue to do that. My job is to be ready to be on the court. My agent's job is to just be my defense and be that voice for me that I'm not able to say."
Parker said he leans upon his father, former NBA player Sonny Parker, for support.
"I take it upon myself to do what I can first and foremost. But my person that I go to as my mentor is my father because my father played in the league. Everything I know comes from him. My basketball credentials are very credible because of my dad," Parker said. "He tells me the truth. He tells me what it takes. He never feeds me negativity. It's always what I can control. It's never pointing a finger. That's what I love so much about my father."
Boylen said Parker has "done a great job" handling his surprising new situation.
"It's not easy," Boylen said. "I've been direct and honest with him about what I expect and what I hope he can continue to work on."
Parker is the team's second-leading scorer and rebounder. This was supposed to be a happy homecoming for the former Simeon standout. Instead, he has seen his role change from starter to reserve to starter to reserve to out of the rotation.
"It's bigger than anything that I'm given. I only deal with Jim, and I just have to take his word for it and trust what he's telling me," Parker said. "I can have as many opinions as possible, but that doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how I feel. It is what it is.
"I was given the expectation I was out of the lineup. Until somebody says otherwise, I'm still in that position."
