Shoot, keeping Pargo seems like a no-brainer for Bulls

October 25, 2004

Jannero Pargo can put the ball in the basket, and that could be enough to land him a job with the Bulls. Although the 6-1 point guard is the Bulls' best shooter, he has a non-guaranteed contract and is on the bubble because he is one of five point guards fighting for a job on a team that likely will carry only two (and no more than three).



Bulls operations chief John Paxson last week released 5-11 Mike Wilks and his $720,046 guaranteed salary. That leaves Pargo competing with 6-1 rookie Chris Duhon and 6-3 veteran Frank Williams to join 6-3 veteran Kirk Hinrich and 6-3 rookie Ben Gordon on the roster.

A recent report suggested the Bulls were so happy about Pargo's shooting skills that they have decided to keep him.

"That's news to me,'' Pargo said Saturday before the Bulls took on the Toronto Raptors in a preseason game at the United Center. "Nobody in the Bulls has told me that I have a job sewed up. So I can't afford to relax. I've got to go out and play every game as if it's my last.''

A couple hours later, Pargo came off the bench with 10 minutes left in the game and scored 13 of his 15 fourth-quarter points in the last 6:54 to rally the Bulls from a 15-point, fourth-quarter deficit -- though they still lost 91-89.

"When you come in, you just have to be ready to play ... [and] make the most of it,'' Pargo said. "I got in a rhythm, and my teammates helped me out by screening and getting me the ball. Fortunately, I was able to knock down shots.''

Coach Scott Skiles was not surprised.

"That is what Jannero does,'' Skiles said. "On nights when we struggle, he shoots and scores and gets things going. ... I was in constant search for a lineup to play with some energy. He made some baskets and got us going.

''When you're looking at players ... you look and ask, 'Do they have an NBA skill? Is there something they do at an NBA level?' And he does. He has an NBA skill shooting the ball. The great players have three, four and five different skills. On nights like this, he is very valuable.''

And because the Bulls continue to rebuild with one of the league's youngest teams, there are going to be many nights when they have trouble scoring. That makes keeping Pargo a must, especially since Gordon has yet to get untracked and 6-9 reserve forward Eddie Robinson, another good shooter, is likely to be traded or released along with Williams.

"I call Jannero 'Microwave' because he gets hot quick,'' Bulls forward Antonio Davis said. "Considering all the circumstances, it would be a shame if we don't keep him.''

And Pargo almost certainly will be snatched by another team if the Bulls release him.

A Chicago native and former Robeson High School star, Pargo is shooting 47.8 percent from the field while the Bulls are shooting 38 percent as a team. Pargo is averaging 4.5 points a game because he is playing just 7.8 minutes a game.

Last season, Pargo came off the Bulls' bench to score a career-high 34 points while playing 38 minutes in a 115-105 loss to the playoff-bound Milwaukee Bucks. If the Bulls, the league's worst-shooting team last season (41.4 percent), can afford to pay some $13 million this season to Scottie Pippen, Robinson, Wilks and Williams not to play, they can afford to spend a couple million on Pargo.


NOTE: Bulls players greeting fans tonight at the United Center before the game against the Washington Wizards (7:30 p.m., Comcast Sports Net) will be Tyson Chandler at Gate 2, Andres Nocioni at Gate 3, Eddy Curry at Gate 6 and Kirk Hinrich at Gate 7.

Posted by MaTT4281:

I'd welcome him back. He's definately an upgrade over Moochie and Brewer.
He would probably have a better chance for his career elsewhere, but if he wants to come back, I would not complain.

Posted by MaTT4281:

The best place for Frank would probably be Houston. They need a PG, and he could compete for Starter with Ward and Lue.
Besides, I hear if you're an ex-knick, you're welcome in Houston.

Posted by TRU:

Penny.

Dog, if Marbs gets hurt, we're up the creek anyway.

Stop worrying about Frank Williams.

Some women just love men who underachieve.

And, oh yeah...

Stop smokin' them tweeds.

Posted by TRU:

Posted by djsunyc:


huh?

you do realize we need a guard ROTATION and with h20's status up in the air, i'm assuming penny and crawford start so somebody has to get off the bench.

and in case you forget, frank played his way into the starting lineup last season and played VERY well with marbury. is he a star, of course not, but he's solid.

and i'm not worrying, i'm just saying that if he's available, we should seriously consider trying to bring him back, that's all.

you need to stop worrying how to make your posts stand out with all those colors and bells & whistles.

Solid?

Is that why he's about to get cut?

Man lost a family member and curled up in a fetal position.

Maybe you like those "sensitive" men.



Frank Williams is about as solid as a case of the runs.

Good riddin's.

Maybe after he's cut you can hire him to do some topless housecleaning.