NBA Trade Speculation: Why Teams Would Be Wise To Avoid Brandon Jennings
Many teams are going to be fishing in the trade market this NBA offseason.
Whether it's franchises looking to bolster down a playoff roster, rebuild their artillery or attract fan interest, organizations will be doing their best to acquire the most readily available talent.
In comes Brandon Jennings.
Jennings has been one of the more well-rounded point guards in the NBA over the past two years, averaging 15.8 PPG during that span.
It has been speculated that the Milwaukee Bucks are ready to deal the 21-year-old for the right price, but how good is he really?
While Jennings has taken over games at times with his hot outside shooting and quick ball-handling, his lack of experience and assist creativity has sparked some serious speculation towards his NBA point guard potential.
Here are the top 10 reasons why teams should think twice before emptying their pockets for a point guard like Brandon Jennings.
10. The Milwaukee Bucks' Price
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There is going to be a lot of speculation around the league as to how much the Milwaukee Bucks want in return for Brandon Jennings.
Without him, while productive and still fairly young, the Bucks would only be left with center Andrew Bogut.
I wouldn't consider that a highly respectable lineup in an Eastern Conference that's getting bigger and better by the day.
Milwaukee is going to ask for some serious talent and compensation for Jennings' services, while they try to rebuild or put an inexperienced rotation on the court.
If teams are going to give up their third or even second-best player for the 21-year-old, they better make sure Jennings is as good as everybody thinks he is.
9. Does He Do Too Much?
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While Brandon Jennings does provide some flashy offense, creating through his excellent driving ability and streaky outside shooting, at times it seems he does too much.
Now I'm the last person to put a guy down for trying to create baskets in order to put his team in the game, but when your turning the ball over and putting up awkward shots, it takes away from your NBA trade value.
Teams need to be cautious when pursuing Jennings.
He averages nearly 2.5 turnovers per game while possessing an inability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Jennings can score. But when it comes on the back of high turnover numbers and inexplicable shooting, how much is too much?
8. Three-Point Percentage Decrease
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Brandon Jennings does most of his scoring via the three-point line.
One out of every three shots he takes is from beyond the arc.
You can even say he lives and dies by the three when he's being shut out of the paint.
From 2010 to 2011, Jennings' three-point percentage dipped from .374 to .323.
Considering he's labeled as an offensive outside presence, Jennings' decrease in hitting the long ball is a little alarming.
Could it be a factor of teams crowding him at the line and making him put up contested shots?
Maybe. And that also brings us back to the fact that he might try to do too much.
Jennings' shot percentage from downtown in 2011 ranked eighth-worst among starting point guards.
With another yearly decrease, the heralded scoring guard could see one of his most prolific offensive abilities fly out the window.
7. Transition to New Offense
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As it is with any player moving to a different team and city, especially for a starting point guard, Brandon Jennings' adaption to a brand new offense could prove deadly.
Remember, the young point guard has only been playing in Milwaukee for two years, so to say he has a tight grasp on their game schemes and team chemistry seems to be a reach.
However, Jennings has enough potential to make noise in any lineup, regardless of the coach, teammates, city and so on.
But, if a team is going to unload their talented young players to acquire a point guard of Jennings' caliber, don't you think they have to be absolutely sold on his ability to successfully lead a foreign offense?
6. Too Much Money?
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How much money is too much money?
Brandon Jennings has proven that not only does he deserve to play for an NBA contender and receive the respect he's played for, but he will be looking to sign a contract extension of lucrative proportions.
It could depend on which team decides to acquire the young playmaker, but seeing as Jennings is only 21 years old and has shown on-court progression over the past two seasons, the kid wants to get paid.
So where do you draw the line?
Who knows. A lot of teams will be more than willing to dive into their savings in order to attract a talented scorer like Jennings.
However, franchises need to be aware that spending too much money on a point guard may end up creating a Baron Davis monetary situation.
5. Playoff Inexperience
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There's not much to say about Brandon Jennings and his playoff experience because there's not much of it.
The 2009-2010 NBA season was the only year that the 21-year-old has been featured beyond the regular season, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to three victories against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, eventually losing the series in seven games.
Jennings did score just near 19.0 PPG, but saw a drop in assists, steals and three-point percentage from the regular season.
When your unloading your young players for an already established NBA point guard, you're going to want to be convinced that he can lead your team into the playoffs.
Because isn't that what every team wants to believe?
Teams are going to look at his inexperience and try to build around that when trading for him or signing him to an extensive contract.
4. Lack of Creative Passing
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While playing for Milwaukee during his first two NBA seasons, Brandon Jennings has struggled to provide consistent passing, as many of the true point guards in the league tend to succeed in.
The fact remains, Jennings needs to hold onto some of his forced three-point shots and get the ball into his teammates hands.
Now I know that dishing the ball off to John Salmons isn't the same as lobbing a ball up to Kobe Bryant, but assists are assists.
Jennings has averaged just 5.3 APG during his career, declining to only 4.8 this season.
Many teams will be in the market for not only a scoring point guard, but one that can create open shots and find other solid offensive options when their shot just isn't there.
At many times, Jennings fails to fit this bill.
3. Playing Alongside Another Superstar
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Brandon Jennings' time in Milwaukee may be coming to an end.
He's provided the team with consistent scoring and streaky playmaking abilities, serving as the Bucks' superstar over the past two seasons.
But, how will Jennings fair with playing alongside another superstar, one who already runs his team's offense and looks for the ball in crunch time situations?
There's two things that could happen here.
Either Jennings subsides to his new teammate and evolves into a passing point guard, or the 21-year-old continues his flashy ways and tries to take over the system.
However, it all depends on his new home.
It's been speculated that the Los Angeles Lakers have stressed much interest in acquiring the point guard, so a switch to a championship roster featuring Kobe Bryant could prove as an early 2011-2012 test for the Jennings.
2. Longevity
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Brandon Jennings is 6'1", 185.
That screams anything but longevity.
Teams will be looking to trade for Jennings this offseason in order to feature him as their starting point guards for years to come.
But Jennings will be looking for a long-term, high-invested contract.
So what do teams have to be worried about?
His physicality.
Jennings is one of the smallest guards in the league, strictly based on his stature and skinny makeup.
Considering the point guard likes to take it hard to the hole and create scoring opportunities for himself, NBA teams are going to discuss his longevity as a professional 1-guard for years to come.
Jennings missed over a month this season with a broken foot.
1. NBA Inexperience
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The sole factor that teams need to address when thinking about trading for Brandon Jennings is no doubt his lack of a true NBA experience.
Regardless of his playoff history or his inevitable cold streaks, Jennings has only been in the league for two seasons.
Yes, two seasons. And he's already being considered one of the best scoring point guards in the league.
The problem with Jennings being labeled as such a great player is the fact that teams looking to acquire the 21-year-old are only basing their organizational moves on such a small career sample.
His outside shooting decreased this year from 2009-2010, which I mentioned before, and his injury struggles during the season shouldn't be taken lightly.
Jennings will more than likely land in a very comfy situation, team-wise and contract-wise.
But, NBA franchises shouldn't base their championship expectations on a third-year point guard who could lack longevity, natural passing abilities and the environmental adjustments to play alongside a proven veteran.
