NBA Rumors: Why Brandon Jennings Must Continue to Push for a Trade

Brandon Jennings will become a disgruntled NBA player if he does not move to a bigger market in the next couple years.

Jennings, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2014 season, told ESPN's Chris Broussard that he will "keep his options open" and that he is "doing homework on big-market teams."

It was certainly not what the Milwaukee Bucks' front office expected and it is a cause for concern as the team now has to plan for a possible future without their star guard.

The decision for the Bucks' front office is to either trade him and get pieces in return or negotiate with him and hope he re-signs.

Jennings is averaging 19.1 points per game and 5.4 assists per game this season.

But did we not see this coming?

Jennings is the furthest thing away from spending his career in Milwaukee.  He enjoys the bright lights and attention, and he will never get that staying with the Bucks.

Have we forgotten he was a star at famed Oak Hill Academy, then passed on playing for the University of Arizona in an attempt to become more of a professional while playing for Italy's Lottomatica Roma?

Jennings is the definition of a diva, and it should have been obvious that he would eventually leave Milwaukee for the bright lights of New York or a similar city.

However, now that his comments are public, he must push for a trade and make it obvious to the Bucks that he will not be in their future plans.  In return, Milwaukee should comply with his wishes or risk sending their franchise back to the NBA cellar.

There is nothing in Milwaukee for Jennings—just a starting point for a notable career in a bigger city.  His name would grow substantially if acquired by the Knicks, Heat, Lakers or Clippers.

Of course, this is harsh for Jennings to say, especially at such a time in the NBA season.  But this is the state of the NBA, where big-market teams attract big-ego players.  Lucky enough for the Bucks, Jennings let his feelings be known now so that the team can work out a way to salvage such a player's value.