In an appearance Tuesday on 105.7 The FAN in Milwaukee, Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times reported that the Bucks were very close to trading Parker at this year’s deadline. Additionally, Woelfel believes that the 23-year-old forward is unlikely to return to the team next season. Bucks writer Paul Henning also added that Woelfel is supposedly close to Parker and his family.
Take it for what it is. But, @GeryWoelfel is close to Jabari and the Parker family. This morning @1057FMTheFan he reports Jabari was “very, very close to being traded” at deadline, feels there is “slim to none” chances that Jabari is on Bucks next season. https://t.co/W4tmqz8hzf
— Paul Henning (@brewcitypaul) March 20, 2018
Not long after Woelfel’s appearance, Bucks senior vice president Alex Lasry, the son of co-owner Marc Lasry, decried the report on Twitter as “fake news.”
This is fake news. https://t.co/5oy77nc0y5
— Alex Lasry (@AlexanderLasry) March 20, 2018
On Wednesday, Woelfel took an opportunity to respond on the air to Lasry’s claim. Lasry then hit back again, leading to this interesting exchange.
.@GeryWoelfel: “If I was Alex Lasry’s father, I’d tell him to cool it down on Twitter.”
— 105.7FM The FAN (@1057FMTheFan) March 21, 2018
Oh Man, Gerry…sick burn! https://t.co/y3jbOu6v36
— Alex Lasry (@AlexanderLasry) March 21, 2018
For what it’s worth, Bucks GM Jon Horst also spoke Wednesday on The FAN and stated plainly that the team was not looking to trade Parker. Meanwhile, Lasry went on to retweet this user who took a shot at Woelfel and his sources.
Shoutout Jon Horst for calling out @GeryWoelfel and his “sources”
— Elijah Zbytowski (@ShEli_Whitney) March 21, 2018
As for Parker himself, he will be a restricted free agent after the season. The former No. 2 pick may not be at the peak of his value however since he is less than two months removed from his season debut following his second right ACL tear in a span of just over two years. So thus, his long-term future with Milwaukee may still be up in the air (especially considering this report about the deal he is supposedly seeking, albeit also from Woelfel). But it probably won’t be because of any attempts to trade him on the Bucks’ part.
