AT 19 years old, he was picked No. 28 in a 2001 Draft that had a big bust as a top pick (Kwame Brown). It was a lean 2001 Class that included Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson, Gilbert Arenas, and Zach Randolph. He had a successful 17 seasons with the team that drafted him, and when the 2018-2019 NBA season opens, it will be weird seeing him in a different uniform.
Born in Belgium to an American father and a Dutch mother and raised in France, William Anthony “Tony” Parker Jr. bid farewell to the San Antonio Spurs not to retirement but to play for another team. He moved to the Eastern Conference and agreed to a two-year, $10-million deal with the Charlotte Hornets.
He leaves the City of San Antonio as one of the most accomplished players in Spurs history. Now 36 years old, he thinks and feels he can still play for at least two more seasons, even outside of San Antonio. With Charlotte, he will be the main backup to Kemba Walker. He lost his starting job with the Spurs to the much younger DeJounte Murray and incoming sophomore Derrick White, limiting his minutes.
Parker was a six-time All-Star and a four-time NBA champion with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili (2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014). He was the 2007 Finals MVP, becoming the first European player to win the award and is the Spurs’ all-time leader in assists. He had career lows last season with 7.7 points, 3.5 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 19.5 minutes. He will join French national teammate Nicolas Batum in Charlotte and hopes to improve his production as a chief reserve.
Parker had served the Spurs well. With him gone, this could help San Antonio solve the Kawhi Leonard issue as it was reported that both players were not in good terms. But as of this writing, Kawhi’s handlers reportedly want him out of the Spurs organization. Kawhi should be man enough and do some talking instead of letting other people speak on his behalf. I think he’s being manipulated and this could ruin his career.
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Carmelo Anthony reportedly wants out of Oklahoma and would like to play alongside LeBron James with the Lakers. Please, oh please, no. LBJ can do well with the talents on hand in Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram who can play defense. Melo is at least 10 years older than both and he doesn’t play defense. Let the young core develop, and with Brook Lopez gone to Milwaukee, I hope Coach Luke Walton will put Ivica Zubac to good use – unless he also gets dealt.
Houston reportedly is very interested in Melo’s services and good friend Chris Paul wants him with the Rockets. OKC and Melo are reportedly working on a trade, a buy-out or waiver. Miami likewise has shown interest.
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Denver has officially signed big man Nikola Jokic to a five-year, $147-million deal.
The 6-10 Serbian was drafted 41st in 2004 and blossomed into one of the league’s top perimeter players. He made 10 triple-doubles last season, the most by a Nuggets player since Fat Lever in 1988. He joined Oscar Robertson and Larry Bird with at least 3,000 points, 2,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in their first three seasons.
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With a two-year, $18-million deal, Julius Randle is officially a Pelican. With a per-game average of 18 points, he joins fellow Kentucky player and five-time All-Star Anthony Davis in the frontcourt. Joining Randle with the Pels is guard Elfrid Payton and his hairdo. The fourth year player is on his third team with four-year career averages of 11.2 points and 6.4 assists per game./PN
