Could Bucks PG Brandon Jennings Be a Trade Piece for Celtics Star Rajon Rondo?

There has been so much trade talk surrounding the Celtics' starting point guard Rajon Rondo that it's been difficult to determine validity and what is absolute speculation.

Last week it was Rondo for Pau Gasol. Next week it could be Rondo for Dwyane Wade for all we know. (Miami would never do that trade right? Or would they? Just remember where you heard it first!) Now I will preempt the following information by saying that it in has no way been connected to the Celtics or Danny Ainge. This is simply my opinion as to a situation that I find interesting.

I have gone on record on the CLNSRadio blog and on several of our Celtics Postgame Shows that I am not a fan of trading Rondo. I think there is very little out there as far as fair value that the Celtics could get back for Rondo aside from Chris Paul or perhaps Derrick Rose. We all saw how the Chris Paul situation turned out and Chicago is never going to deal Rose in my opinion. So, here it goes...

I've probably said on the blog that I'm not a very big fan of Chris Broussard, but he does have his ear to the grindstone when it comes to all things NBA. Because of this, I do follow his Twitter feed rather closely and choose to take some of the information with a grain of salt, as with anything that is posted on social media networks these days

Broussard reported that Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks told ESPN that he would strongly consider leaving the Bucks for a "big market team." Jennings is the starting point guard for the Bucks for those unfamiliar with him and is currently their leading scorer.

Broussard went on to report that Jennings is eligible to sign a long-term contract with Milwaukee this summer but he can also become an unrestricted free agent after 2014. He went on:

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Although he has not established himself as an All-Star or maximum-salaried player, he's led the Bucks in scoring the past two seasons and currently has them in playoff contention despite the loss of center Andrew Bogut to injury.

Jennings' exciting style of play has invigorated the Bucks' fan base, and Milwaukee's management views him as a building block. But the point guard is not ready to commit to the franchise long-term.

"I'm not saying I won't (sign an extension with the Bucks) and I'm not saying I will,'' he said. "I'm just keeping my options open.''

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So I ask the question: what would it take to get Brandon Jennings to Boston? 

My colleague Nick Sannicandro, in a e-mail discussion I began this past weekend suggested a three-team trade involving the Lakers and Gasol. In my opinion, if the money/picks worked it is a great deal for all teams involved. Since I couldn't come up with a good scenario myself, I'll defer to Nick's suggested trade on this one and let him have all the credit for the idea.

Milwaukee would get:

Ray Allen and a 1st round pick

Los Angeles would get:

Rajon Rondo

Boston would get:

Brandon Jennings and Pau Gasol

The reason why I think this works, even though to some it might seem that Boston gets the best of this deal, is that all of these teams get what they need from it.

Allen is an expiring contract and a first-round pick could net the Bucks a future point guard if they aren't happy with what's left on their roster at the position (right now it's Beno Udrih and not much else) as it's been noted that coach Scott Skiles has questioned Jennings' leadership abilities in the past.

The Celtics would not only get a scorer than can play the point (even though some consider Jennings to be less than a true PG) but something else they truly covet which is size in the frontcourt.

Gasol, who is 31, I believe may be on the back nine of his career. But anyone who watched him dominate the C's last Thursday can attest that he can still play.

This deal would provide depth at a few positions for Boston, most importantly the 5. Presumably you'd be able to have JO and Wilcox backing up Pau with Bradley and Moore having the ability to rotate with Jennings at the 1 or 2.

Everyone knows Pierce is the leader of this team so Jennings leadership could be slowly built up until Pierce's inevitable retirement when Jennings would be at the end of his deal unless he signed an extension here.

Broussard continued in his report to talk about the trend of players today to play in more prestigious markets in the wake of LeBron, Carmelo Anthony and CP3. Jennings talked about his thoughts on this subject.

"When you start seeing other players like Dwight Howard or CP3, you start thinking. It has nothing to do with the city of Milwaukee or anything like that because that's where I started my career.They've been nothing but good to me. (Coach) Scott Skiles and (general manager) John Hammond have been good to me. It's just that I'm understanding the business of basketball now."

 Jennings stated that although this is out in the open now, that won't affect him on the court.

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I'm going to keep playing hard every night for the Bucks as long as I'm there. I'm not promising that's where my future will be. I will make sure me and (agent Bill Duffy) look at all the best options.

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That sounds to me as if Jennings won't be back, but that's just me.

We already know how he looks in green (and red), but it would be interesting to see how he looks in the green and white. Danny Ainge is not afraid to pull the trigger, so let's put this suggestion in his ear.

You can check out more of my work at CLNSRadio.com