NBA Trade Rumors: Brandon Jennings Available, Would Solve L.A. Lakers' Problems

There is an opportunity open to the Los Angeles Lakers that would solve their problems, but it requires a little bit of thinking outside of the box.

According to Sam Amick of SI.com, Brandon Jennings is available:

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Sources said Milwaukee has made third-year point guard Brandon Jennings available "for the right price," as one executive who has spoken to the Bucks put it. Jennings, who was drafted 10th overall in 2009 and has been considered the team's future franchise player, irked Bucks officials with his comments to ESPN.com in early February about a possible departure.

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Note the operative words here: "for the right price." In other words, he ain't coming cheap, and he shouldn't. If he's not a top-10 point guard, he is very close to being one; in this day and age, that's pretty impressive. 

The problem is that he makes only $2.5 million. That means the Lakers aren't going to find a player of equal quality and cost. In order to get him, they are going to have to look at trading a bundle.

There is an answer for that, as the Bucks have another quality player up for trade in Andrew Bogut. 

Amick adds:

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A source close to the Bucks said they are doubtful that now is the time to get maximum value for the injured Bogut, meaning any and all suitors will have to make a strong push to do a deal. Bogut is owed a combined $27 million for the next two seasons, and -- as was reported by ESPN.com -- Milwaukee is indeed looking to unload the contracts of either Stephen Jackson (one season remaining at $10.1 million) or Drew Gooden (three seasons remaining for a combined $20.1 million) in any Bogut trade. 

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So what if the Lakers were to work a package where they took on Bogut, Jennings and Gooden? They could go about doing that by sending back Andrew Bynum and Steve Blake. It works financially for the ESPN Trade Machine, so at least the logistics of the trade work out. 

So now the question is whether the mechanics would work. 

First, why would the Bucks do it? There are a couple reasons.

They would be able to "start over" with a player that's under contract for a couple of years who has the potential to be a superstar big man and a player you can build around. He has the desire and ability to be "the man."

It would also free them up from the Gooden contract. They could buy out the Jackson contract and be active in the free-agent market next summer. 

Now the larger question: Why would the Lakers want to do it?

The first objection I can see coming is that you don't trade Bynum for anyone but Howard. But I think that's a bit of a precarious position. I agree Bill Simmons here in that Bynum is as much of a "sell high" candidate as I've ever seen.

Simmons argues:

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Has there ever been a better "We'd be selling high if we traded him right now" example? From 2007 through 2011, Bynum played 35, 50, 65 and 54 games. Miraculously, he's played 35 consecutive games this season … in a lockout-shortened season, no less! We keep hearing that Jimmy Dolan 2.0 (a.k.a. Jimmy Buss) won't trade Bynum because that's his guy, but man, wouldn't it make sense to flip a healthy-right-now-at-this-moment Bynum for a point guard and/or multiple pieces for one last three-year run behind Kobe and Gasol?

What am I missing? Could you get Lowry, Chase Budinger and Luis Scola for him? What about Nash and Gortat? What about Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert? What about Josh Smith, Zaza Pachulia and Jeff Teague? What about Elton Brand, Nik Vucevic and Evan Turner for Bynum and cap fodder? What about … ?

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I double-dog dare you to look me in the eye and tell me that you didn't panic just a little when Bynum came up hobbling a little bit yesterday in the Celtics game. I mean, there's an awful lot of security being put into 35 whole consecutive games. 

You have to at least consider that it's time to sell high, especially if you can get two All-Star-caliber players back for him, which you can. 

The next argument is that the Brandon Jennings is a bit of a chucker who tosses up 17 shots a game and only makes 40 percent of them. 

I suppose it's not going to help the cause if I say, "At least it's a career high!"

Admittedly, this is the weakness in his game. However, here's the possibility that I see with him playing alongside Kobe Bryant: Perhaps with the two of them sharing the backcourt, they both chuck a little less. 

They'll also have Bogut and Pau Gasol in the paint, which isn't quite as scary as Gasol and Bynum but it's still pretty darned good. Bogut might not be the second-best center in the NBA, but he's in the top five. 

And that's where things get intriguing: Do you want a top-five center and top-10 point guard along with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, or do you want to continue with the status quo, which is most certainly not going to win a championship unless you can play all your games at home?

The third argument is the cost. However, it's actually a nominal difference of just $900,000. Yes, Jennings is a restricted free agent, but you can always amnesty Luke Walton's contract and keep him. 

Finally, you get Drew Gooden, who would be a great big man off the bench and start until Bogut is healthy. The Lakers could just move Gasol to center and play Gooden at power forward. 

If Bogut is able to return for the playoffs, he would greatly improve the Lakers' chances to win a championship this year and the next.

Right now, all things Lakers revolve around one central thought: getting Kobe his sixth ring. This is a deal that could do that.