Brew Hoop - Brandon Jennings traded to Pistons, Bucks acquire Brandon KnightMilwaukee Bucks News and Analysis Since 2007https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47773/brewhoop_fave.png2013-08-01T07:30:04-05:00http://www.brewhoop.com/rss/stream/43380512013-08-01T07:30:04-05:002013-08-01T07:30:04-05:00It was never easy believing in Brandon Jennings
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<p>After four years spent dreaming about potential, reality finally caught up to the Bucks and Brandon Jennings.</p> <p>I started writing a <span>Brandon Jennings</span> farewell post 3 months ago. Jennings was wrapping up the most frustrating season of his professional career, wrought with uneven play and near-constant criticism. There were rumors of discontentment in the locker room, and questions of contracts and market size commanded far more attention than anyone would have liked. So it seemed like the right time to start considering the possibility that he could be calling a new city home in a matter of months. Hell, it was more than something to consider, it was something to come to terms with.</p>
<p>Jennings united the fanbase in utter euphoria just seven games into his rookie season, in the midst of an stunning run <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Bucks</a> fans could barely have hoped for. It was love-at-first-sight on the basketball court, and Bucks fans were heartsick. The immediate bond between team, city, and fans would have flummoxed even the brightest chemists. That’s what happens when you drop a flashy young <i>superstar-in-the-making</i> into a city <a href="http://www.bucksketball.com/2013/07/unrealized-and-unrealistic-expectations-brandon-jennings-is-gone/" target="_blank">starving for a hardwood savior.</a></p>
<p>There’s no need to rehash the rest, which is sort of ridiculous since "the rest" is 96% of Jennings’ career. The NBA is peppered with flashes of brilliance that fade into the haze moments later. It’s easy to say Jennings’s story is no different. Easy to write off his time with the Bucks as reliant on a mirage that appeared briefly four years ago. That’s what I thought I should do when I started banging out a goodbye to the player who inspired <a href="http://where55happens.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">the site where I got started with all this</a>. No more speculation, no more qualification, no more rationalization. Jennings is what he is by now. We know what he can do and we know how it all works out—the Bucks are, by some measures, a far superior team when he’s sitting on the bench.</p>
<p>I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t slap a final verdict on a player who figured so prominently in a grand thought experiment, defined by uncertainty. Or hope, if we’re being charitable. I don’t know if I still believe in Brandon Jennings like I used to, but I definitely think there’s more to his story than what we’ve seen to date.</p>
<div class="pullquote">Belief ran up against the cold concrete wall of an $8 million contract extension and 2,732 missed shots.</div>
<p>What’s obvious after seeing the Bucks cut bait on their ex-future-superstar is that 55-point games and swagger in spades don’t mean a thing when faced with the stark realities of the NBA. It’s not just that a peek below the surface reveals how ineffective Jennings’ can be, and often was. The Bucks simply couldn’t afford to be dreamers anymore. Belief ran up against the cold concrete wall of an $8 million contract extension and 2,732 missed shots. The welcome wore out like it has with so many other players who accomplished much more or much less during their days in Milwaukee.</p>
<p>What’s not so clear is whether any of that is going to matter for Jennings going forward. Things were so dysfunctional for so much of his tenure that it’s not unreasonable to think his growth was stunted. In fact, that’s just what the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> are banking on. Jennings <a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4572922/brandon-jennings-joins-pistons-squad-looking-to-jumpstart-drive-to" target="_blank">looks like a decent fit for their squad</a>: a solid shooter from deep who can take care of the ball and run the offense at least as well as his predecessor. Opinions are divided, and I’m guessing one’s attachment to the early days of the 2009-2010 season provide a pretty clear line of demarcation. Still think they’re real? Maybe the Motor City can recapture the magic. If not, Detroit just bought itself a big headache at a bad time.</p>
<p>It’s always bugged me to hear that night when Golden State came to town referred to as the "worst thing to happen to Brandon Jennings". In what world does a sensational display of ability early in a career mark the beginning of the end? I’m as guilty—more so, probably—as the next person for putting too much value on it, for hanging on way too long, but that’s my fault. There was never a right way for Jennings’ career to play out. The guy skipped college to play in Europe, for cryin’ out loud. Did he peak too early? Maybe, though it’s possibly wrong to consider that string of games a peak at all. He’s the quintessential high-variance player. There was bound to be a spike in the data, we just didn’t expect to see it so quickly. It was like 50 monkeys got together and hammered out "Two households, both alike in dignity" on the first day before descending back into banana-smeared gibberish, and we got mad at the monkeys.</p>
<p>What makes Jennings’ tale remarkable to me now is that, at the end, it looks so <i>unremarkable</i>. To start with such promise and end mired in frustration; you’d never know the coals were once a roaring flame if you hadn’t seen it yourself. I’ve romanticized his time as Bucks point guard more than was probably advisable (still am), but don’t mistake acknowledgement for regret. It was fun to believe, even if it wasn’t easy. Now the pressure’s off. I have little real stock in where things go from here when it comes to Brandon Jennings. And in truth, it’s probably best for my other allegiances if things continue to smolder, rather than ignite, before just fading away. Part of me will be disappointed if things play out that way, though. I wanted great things for Jennings, even if it was just to validate my interest and the jersey hanging in my closet. No matter how bad things got, I believed in Brandon Jennings. I realize now that belief can be a dangerous cloak on reality. But it was comfortable, and it sure beat accepting the now-apparent truth, that everything was just a big mess. Ignorance isn’t bliss, it’s just a lot better than bad news.</p>
<h4>More from Brew Hoop:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/31/4573834/brandon-jennings-trade-grades-reaction-brandon-knight-bucks">Brandon Jennings trade reaction, grades: Is Brandon Knight better for the Bucks?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/31/4574010/brandon-jennings-traded-pistons-bucks-brandon-knight">Brandon Jennings traded to Pistons, Bucks acquire Brandon Knight</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4572922/brandon-jennings-joins-pistons-squad-looking-to-jumpstart-drive-to">Brandon Jennings joins Pistons squad looking to jumpstart drive to contention.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4573324/examining-the-other-parts-of-the-bucks-pistons-trade">Examining the other parts of the Bucks-Pistons trade</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4573102/the-first-of-many-brandon-knight-scouting-reports">The First Of Many Brandon Knight Scouting Reports</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/8/1/4577686/saying-goodbye-to-brandon-jennings-who-never-made-it-easy-to-believeDan Sinclair2013-07-31T07:05:02-05:002013-07-31T07:05:02-05:00Jennings / Knight trade reactions + mega podcast
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Milwaukee Bucks have traded Brandon Jennings to the Detroit Pistons for Brandon Knight, Khris Middleton and Viacheslav Kravtsov. Here's what other experts are saying about the deal, along with our own thoughts in podcast form. </p> <p>Well, that escalated quickly. <span>Brandon Jennings</span> is headed to the <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Pistons</a> in a sign-and-trade deal that will send <span>Brandon Knight</span>, <span>Khris Middleton</span> and <span>Viacheslav Kravtsov</span> to the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Bucks</a>. It's a flashy move late in the NBA free agency period that may not actually improve Milwaukee for the 2013-14 season, but there's a deeper thread to the trade that everyone following the Bucks can appreciate.</p>
<p>John Hammond managed to preserve financial flexibility by avoiding a big contract for Jennings, and now <span>Larry Sanders</span> has emerged as <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/29/4566632/larry-sanders-milwaukee-bucks-john-hammond">the new face of the franchise</a>. It's hard to argue that Knight is better than Jennings right now, so the Bucks may have taken a step back this summer, but there are some interesting advanced metrics that lean in Knight's favor. New head coach <span>Larry Drew</span> has been praised for his ability to guide the development of young players, so now Drew will get his chance to make a mark in that regard next season. Things are suddenly coming together (?) in a very interesting way, even if the overall plan for how to take the next step is still unclear.</p>
<p>At Brew Hoop we've already covered multiple angles to this transaction. Jake McCormick offered <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4573102/the-first-of-many-brandon-knight-scouting-reports">an initial scouting report on Brandon Knight</a>, Dan Sinclair <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4572922/brandon-jennings-joins-pistons-squad-looking-to-jumpstart-drive-to">explored the new situation for Brandon Jennings</a>, and Eric Buenning presented <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4573324/examining-the-other-parts-of-the-bucks-pistons-trade">some valuable information on Khris Middleton and Viachelsav Kravstov</a>. Frank Madden has something coming on the Bucks' salary cap situation. We've also recorded an hour-long podcast!</p>
<h4>The Brew Hoop Reaction Podcast</h4>
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<p>In response to the Brandon Jennings sign-and-trade excitement, I sat down with Frank Madden and Dan Sinclair to discuss the following topics:</p>
<p>*Did the Bucks get good value for Brandon Jennings? Would his three-year, $25 million contract have been a good thing for Milwaukee?</p>
<p>*Should Bucks fans be worried about Jennings becoming a star in Detroit?</p>
<p>*Is Brandon Knight any good, or can he become a starting-caliber NBA point guard? Is this trade a bet on Larry Drew and his coaching staff? Could the Sport VU cameras have given the Bucks a better perspective on Knight's value?</p>
<p>*Is Milwaukee a more enjoyable team now that Larry Sanders is the face of the franchise? Where does John Hammond go from here? What's the plan to move forward (or backward)? Should Hammond consider trading <span>Ersan Ilyasova</span> or <span>John Henson</span> to make a big move in either direction?</p>
<h4>Reactions and Grades from Around the Web</h4>
<p>*I will update this list as more grades appear.</p>
<p><b><a target="_blank" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/TradeGrades-130730/trade-grades-brandon-jennings-detroit-pistons">ESPN - Kevin Pelton</a> | B+ for Pistons, B- for Bucks</b></p>
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<p>Based on last season, Knight isn't a starting-caliber point guard. He appears best suited to play both guard spots, preferably off the bench for a good team. <a href="http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2418" target="_blank">SCHOENE</a> calls him most similar at the same age to a shooting guard -- new backcourt-mate <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3450/oj-mayo">O.J. Mayo</a>.</p>
<p>...The Bucks get a couple of years to figure out whether Mayo can provide enough ballhandling support to Knight for them to start together at guard, and with their frontcourt in place they'll probably have additional opportunities to find a long-term solution if Knight isn't that.</p>
<p>Like most of Milwaukee's moves this summer, this deal is more than defensible on its own merits but hazier in the bigger picture. After making a series of acquisitions designed to fight for the eighth seed, the Bucks not only weakened themselves in the short term but also boosted one of their Eastern Conference rivals. This trade will be interesting to revisit next spring when we see how the conference shakes out.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://nba.si.com/2013/07/30/brandon-jennings-trade/"><b>SI.com, The Point Forward blog -- Rob Mahoney</b></a></p>
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<p>Knight runs into trouble creating on his own at times, and generally looks to defer to others when in a jam. It's for that reason that his shot attempts trend much more towards the paint and the three-point line. Knight is no model for shooting efficiency by any means, but tends to attack the basket selectively and play off the ball when he the opportunity isn't there. That restraint makes him a bit too timid to run an offense on a full-time basis (NBA teams frankly need a dash of the audacity that Jennings has in spades), but also counterintuitively leads to him attempting 42.1 percent of his shots inside the paint relative to Jennings' 36.8 percent. The thought to challenge the defense - and initiate the kind of possession that might end up in a forced pull-up jumper - just doesn't occur as often to a player like Knight, for better or worse.</p>
<p>For that reason, we shouldn't expect Knight to be a great immediate fit at point guard for the patchwork Bucks, though he has the tools as a shooter and defender to float between guard positions and ultimately comes at a bargain price. He'll need help, though, in initiating even basic, pick-and-roll-style offense as he grows into his role, which Mayo and Neal will aim to provide with mixed results. Such is the way of the new-look Bucks - a team so strapped by obvious limitations, but largely spared from the frustrations of prior seasons. Ellis and Jennings are gone, and with them the guise that all is well with two brazen, incompatible guards pulling the offense in different directions. Those same departures leave Milwaukee light on shot creation and generalized talent, but better prepared all the same in working toward a more stable design.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.pistonpowered.com/2013/07/pistons-near-sign-and-trade-for-brandon-jennings-who-will-receive-three-year-24-million-contract/"><b>ESPN TrueHoop blog affiliate, PistonPowered -- Dan Feldman</b></a></p>
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<p>Knight, who has two years remaining on his rookie deal, comes cheaper, but he's still a long way from figuring out how to play point guard in the NBA, <a href="http://www.pistonpowered.com/2013/07/joe-dumars-denies-talking-brandon-knight-for-rajon-rondo-trade-brandon-jennings-sign-and-trade/" target="_blank">which might be why Dumars called him a dog</a>. Jennings, who has his own issues running an offense, is at least more talented than Knight. Price aside, I'd definitely rather have Jennings, but it's difficult to completely dismiss price.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pistonpowered.com/tag/khris-middleton/" target="_blank">Khris Middleton</a> looked late last season like he could become a rotation-level backup, and <a href="http://www.pistonpowered.com/tag/vyacheslav-kravtsov/" target="_blank">Viacheslav Kravtsov</a> has an outside shot of reaching that level. Those aren't the type of players to worry about in a trade that acquires a starter, and barring a huge surprise, that's what Jennings is. If an old <a href="http://www.pistonpowered.com/tag/chauncey-billups/" target="_blank">Chauncey Billups</a> or lost <a href="http://www.pistonpowered.com/tag/rodney-stuckey/" target="_blank">Rodney Stuckey</a> takes the job, this trade has likely gone wrong.</p>
<p>On the bright side when it comes to marginal talent, the Pistons should have no trouble signing <a href="http://www.pistonpowered.com/tag/peyton-siva/" target="_blank">Peyton Siva</a> now.</p>
<p>But all that is peripheral. This trade is about Jennings and making the playoffs this season.</p>
<p>Jennings is an upgrade for the Pistons. How much of one and at what cost will determine the long-term ramifications of the deal. For the Pistons, who seem to be thinking more short-term anyway, I don't think they could have done much better.</p>
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<h4>More from Brew Hoop:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4572922/brandon-jennings-joins-pistons-squad-looking-to-jumpstart-drive-to">Brandon Jennings joins Pistons squad looking to jumpstart drive to contention.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4573324/examining-the-other-parts-of-the-bucks-pistons-trade">Examining the other parts of the Bucks-Pistons trade</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4573102/the-first-of-many-brandon-knight-scouting-reports">The First Of Many Brandon Knight Scouting Reports</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4572746/report-bucks-and-pistons-nearing-sign-and-trade-deal-for-brandon">Report: Pistons nearing sign-and-trade deal for Brandon Jennings; Brandon Knight heading to Milwaukee</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/29/4566632/larry-sanders-milwaukee-bucks-john-hammond">Larry Sanders is saying the right things about the Bucks and John Hammond's plan</a></li>
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https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/31/4573834/brandon-jennings-trade-grades-reaction-brandon-knight-bucksSteve von Horn2013-07-30T21:02:19-05:002013-07-30T21:02:19-05:00Jennings, Pistons looking to jumpstart improvement
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<figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Both the Pistons and Bucks are looking to compete for the playoffs and more next season. But only one of them apparently thinks Brandon Jennings will help.</p> <p><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4572746/report-bucks-and-pistons-nearing-sign-and-trade-deal-for-brandon" target="_blank">Tuesday's sign-and-trade agreement</a> between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Milwaukee Bucks</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> is just another high-profile move in a summer that has seen significant changes for both teams. By shipping out point guard <span>Brandon Jennings</span>, the Bucks completed a drastic turnover of nearly half their roster. When the trade is finished, every single point guard, shooting guard, and small forward on the team except for <span>Ish Smith</span> will be a new arrival.</p>
<p>The Bucks look to be building their team around their talented young frontcourt. <span>Ersan Ilyasova</span> is under contract at what looks like a good price for another four years, <span>Larry Sanders</span> could be extended before next season starts, and <span>John Henson</span> is just a year into his rookie contract. The Bucks also have <span>Ekpe Udoh</span> available as a rotational big or possible trade chip.</p>
<p>The backcourt remains a bit muddled, however. <span>O.J. Mayo</span> is the presumptive starter at the 2, but the 1 and 3 remain unsettled. <span>Brandon Knight</span>, the centerpiece of the package Milwaukee will receive from the Motor City, has shown promise as a defender and shooter, but he isn't a true point guard in most respects, boasting a higher turnover rate and lower assist rate than even Jennings. Khris Middleton, a second-round pick in 2012 who appeared in just 27 games for the Pistons, isn't likely to step in as anything more than a bit player in the SF rotation.</p>
<p>The Bucks had plenty of reasons to move on from Jennings, and resetting things with a young player still on his rookie deal makes plenty of sense. We'll discuss the trade extensively over the next few days, but for now let's turn our attention to Milwaukee's Central Division rival, the Pistons.</p>
<p>Detroit, like Milwaukee, has a talented frontcourt already in place. But the Pistons couldn't get much in the way out of results from an unbalanced roster, ranking in the bottom third of the league on offense and defense. In order to get the ball rolling before costs spike in a few years, Detroit seems to have decided aggressive tactics were necessary. They started with a 4-year, $54 million agreement with forward <span>Josh Smith</span>, who should bolster their defense and could help the offense if he can reign in the jump-shooting. Combined with their first-round pick <span>Kentavious Caldwell-Pope</span>, Jennings gives the team more firepower in the backcourt, particularly as they try to remedy their 18th-ranked 3-point shooting. He's also a low-turnover PG, which was a major issue for the Pistons last season (26th in TOV%). While Jennings isn't a great shot creator, he could pair well with interior scorers like Smith and Monroe who can score on their own close to the basket. Jennings' floor spacing could help in that regard, as he's proven to be a very good spot-up shooter.</p>
<p>It's a bit of a curious decision by Detroit, considering Jennings' biggest strength (3pt shooting) aligns with the guy he's replacing. With a three-year deal paying him $8 million a year, the Pistons need to see some improvement from Jennings or they'll be stuck facing the same problem as they were yesterday, and KCP will be due for a new contract. Detroit has success in it's not-too-distant past, and they may be hoping that even marginal improvement thanks to Jennings' addition could spark new interest in the team from fans and free agents alike. Is it a risk? Of course, but so was the Smith deal. Jennings is still just 23 years old, so Pistons fans should waste little time latching on to words like "potential" and "upside". It's kept Bucks fans going for years.</p>
<p>As for Jennings himself? This finally brings an end to a messy period in his career. As was the case with <span>Monta Ellis</span>, it truly seems like Jennings was shocked at the lack of big-money offers to come his way as a restricted free agent. There were reports soon after the trade was announced that his salary demands had been overblown--some said he never actually asked for more than about $9 million a year. But was he ever prepared to take a cheaper deal to stay in Milwaukee? Only he knows.</p>
<p>This is the start of new eras for both teams. Things are sure to be very different for both squads next season, and both could find themselves battling for the playoffs in an improved Eastern Conference. The fates of each will depend heavily on two Brandons taking the ferry across Lake Michigan.</p>
https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4572922/brandon-jennings-joins-pistons-squad-looking-to-jumpstart-drive-toDan Sinclair2013-07-30T20:56:55-05:002013-07-30T20:56:55-05:00The other parts of the Bucks-Pistons trade
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<p>Small forward Khris Middleton and center Viacheslav Kravstov were also part of the package with Brandon Knight that got shipped to Milwaukee for Brandon Jennings.</p> <p>Believe it or not, there were players not named Brandon involved in this trade.</p>
<p>The deal also included household names such as Viachelsav Kravstov and <span>Khris Middleton</span>. Oh, they're not? Well, that's what we're here for, I guess.</p>
<h4>VIACHESLAV KRAVTSOV</h4>
<p>Checking in at 6 foot 11 and 254 lbs., Viacheslav (more commonly referred to as 'Slava') is a big Ukranian body that could serve as a nice little insurance policy, should <span>John Henson</span> or <span>Larry Sanders</span> go down with a long-term injury. This may sound a little redundant, as the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bucks</a> j<a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/26/4560218/bucks-sign-serbian-center-miroslav-raduljica" target="_blank">ust signed a similar type of player</a> in <span>Miroslav Raduljica</span>.</p>
<p>What Kravstov and Raduljica share in spell check nightmares, they do not share in NBA experience. Kravtsvov actually has logged 25 games already, sporting averages of 3.1 points, and 1.8 rebounds in nine minutes a contest. As of now, he just seems like a body that can exhaust a few fouls, but at only 25 years old, there may be some room for development. Nevertheless, don't expect anything more than a slightly more useful Joel Przybilla-esque role for Kravtsov.</p>
<h4>KHRIS MIDDLETON</h4>
<p>Middleton was drafted 39th overall in the 2012 Draft out of Texas A&M, and appeared ready to snag some minutes a backup wing position with Detroit before the trade. Now, he may get a slightly larger role.</p>
<p><span>Carlos Delfino</span> is cool and all, but he's probably not your ideal choice for heavy minutes at the small forward spot. <span>Giannis Antetokounmpo</span> is simply not ready to contribute significantly, so...enter Middleton, right?</p>
<p>A 6'7" forward with a 6'10.75" wingspan, the 21-year-old <i>might</i> have the potential to become a rather nice 3-and-D type, with a little more versatility on offense. MIddleton developed a rep as a guy who could get his own shot while Texas A&M, which he should be able to get off over most small forwards. The question is whether he can find reliability in his stroke from distance, which tailed off during an injury-plagued junior season in 11/12. Take a look for yourself.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/03IQuNRLJDg" frameborder="0"></iframe> <br id="1375236313611"></p>
<p>As will be customary for this trade, the question of "Why is Detroit willing to part ways with them?" is important. This applies more to <span>Brandon Knight</span> than it does to Kravtsov or Middleton, but it still matters. Neither of these complementary parts is worth holding onto at the expense of getting a starter, but that certainly doesn't mean they are incapable of contributing.</p>
<p>That being said, this doesn't mean that the Bucks are set at this position. Both Delfino and Middleton are best served as backups to someone more polished, but at least this helps put some sand in the divot left by the departure of Mike <strike>Funleavy</strike> Dunleavy.</p>
<h4>More from Brew Hoop:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4573102/the-first-of-many-brandon-knight-scouting-reports">The First Of Many Brandon Knight Scouting Reports</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4572746/report-bucks-and-pistons-nearing-sign-and-trade-deal-for-brandon">Report: Pistons nearing sign-and-trade deal for Brandon Jennings; Brandon Knight heading to Milwaukee</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/29/4566632/larry-sanders-milwaukee-bucks-john-hammond">Larry Sanders is saying the right things about the Bucks and John Hammond's plan</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/27/4562840/free-agency-2013-bucks-closing-in-on-deal-with-gary-neal">Free Agency 2013: Bucks closing in on deal with Gary Neal</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/26/4560218/bucks-sign-serbian-center-miroslav-raduljica">Bucks sign Serbian center Miroslav Raduljica</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4573324/examining-the-other-parts-of-the-bucks-pistons-tradeInactiveUser10831872013-07-30T18:51:31-05:002013-07-30T18:51:31-05:00The First Of Many Brandon Knight Scouting Reports
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<figcaption>Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Brandon Knight is the clear centerpiece of the Milwaukee Bucks' four player swap with the Detroit Pistons. There will be a lot written about Knight's game over the next few months, so start your journey with our brief primer on the 21-year-old point guard.</p> <p>A Brandon by any other name is a rose. Or, at the very least, thorns that haven't pricked us yet.</p>
<p>Good, bad, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj1--j4fi4U" target="_blank"></a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj1--j4fi4U">ugly, or </a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj1--j4fi4U" target="_blank">unlucky</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--pistons-to-acquire-brandon-jennings-in-sign-and-trade-deal-211830240.html">Brandon Knight is the new starting point guard for your Milwaukee Bucks</a>. Early fan sentiments have understandably swung the PR machine in Mr. Knight's favor, but how much of that is attributable to <span>Brandon Jennings</span> fatigue?</p>
<p>Rather, here's a more pertinent question: Is <span>Brandon Knight</span> a better short and long-term investment than Brandon Jennings? The answer, at least at this point, is ambiguous.</p>
<p>Knight does not have Jennings' sporadically exciting offensive game, but defense and overall upside are enough to justify choosing the former over the latter.</p>
<p>Last season, according to Synergy Sports, Knight registered fewer points-per-possession than Jennings (.83 PPP vs. .88 PPP), and struggled mightily as a pick and roll ball handler (.69 PPP, 20.6% TO) despite starting most of his possessions in those sets. The rest of his production was mostly relegated to transition opportunities (.94 PPP) and spot-ups (.99 PPP), neither of which can be called consistently reliable.</p>
<p>Career-wise, Knight doesn't stack up to Jennings in the areas of PER, turnover rate, or assist rate, all of which are barometers for measuring a point guard's true impact on the game. Knight's penetration is not much to brag about either, as he shot 51.4% FG at the rim and 31% FG between 5 - 9 feet last season.</p>
<p>The New Brandon does have a slightly higher career True Shooting Percentage (51.1% vs. 49.8%), mostly due to his strongest offensive attribute.</p>
<p>Knight's immediate impact will come as a floor spacer and deep shooter. A career 37.6% bomber from beyond the arc (Jennings' is 35.4%), Knight joins <span>Ersan Ilyasova</span> (44.4% 3FG), OJ Mayo (40.7% 3FG), <span>Carlos Delfino</span> (37.5% 3FG), <span>Gary Neal</span> (35.5% 3FG), and <span>Luke Ridnour</span> (31.1% 3FG) in the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bucks</a>' stable of snipers.</p>
<p>Some of the above weaknesses can be attributed to youth (<a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4572746/report-bucks-and-pistons-nearing-sign-and-trade-deal-for-brandon">Read Zach Lowe's breakdown at the bottom of Frank's earlier write up</a>), but it's fair to assume the <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Pistons</a> knew what they were giving away on the offensive end of the floor.</p>
<p>Defensively, Knight's size (6'3", 189 lbs) should make you feel confident in his ability to fight through screens and disrupt an offense's rhythm. The Pistons were 7 pts/100 possessions better with him on the court last year, and his current backcourt mates (Sorry, Juice) undoubtedly create added pressure on Knight to stay on guard at all times.</p>
<p>Of course, there are some off-court metrics that add value to this deal for the Bucks. Knight is cheaper, younger (21-year-old), and coming to a team coached by a man that has already sculpted a solid point guard out of oft-unforgiving NBA clay.</p>
<p>Essentially, the Bucks hit a middle-of-the-game reset button at the point guard position. But given everything we've seen and experienced with Brandon Jennings at the helm, it feels like neither side was interested in reconciliation, and a move had to be made sooner or later. Whether it was right or wrong remains to be seen.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Just remember how you're feeling right now if history proves unkind to this trade.</p>
https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4573102/the-first-of-many-brandon-knight-scouting-reportsJacob McCormick2013-07-30T16:40:19-05:002013-07-30T16:40:19-05:00Bucks ship Jennings to Detroit for Knight
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>After weeks of negotiations between the Bucks and their mercurial restricted free agent point guard went nowhere, the Bucks and Pistons are reportedly close to a deal that would send Brandon Jennings to Detroit in a sign-and-trade that will bring Brandon Knight to Milwaukee.</p> <p>Here it is folks!</p>
<p>Adrian Wojnarowski (who else?) is reporting that <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--pistons-to-acquire-brandon-jennings-in-sign-and-trade-deal-211830240.html" target="_blank">mercurial point guard Brandon Jennings is close to getting his desired escape from Milwaukee</a>--albeit at a greatly reduced price from the $12 million annual salary he was reportedly seeking weeks ago. Woj writes that Jennings' deal will be in the three-year, $24 million neighborhood, while the <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pistons</a> will send 21-year-old guard <span>Brandon Knight</span> back to Milwaukee. Here's the Twitter blow-by-blow:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Y! Sources: Detroit's finalizing a sign-and-trade with Milwaukee to acquire <span>Brandon Jennings</span> on a 3-year, $24M deal. <a href="http://t.co/gnBbwVVl26">http://t.co/gnBbwVVl26</a></p>
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/362322522252902400">July 30, 2013</a>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
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<p>Brandon Jennings' deal with Detroit expected to be in three-year range in excess of $25 million. Rest of trade details still being sorted</p>
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/362320366959460352">July 30, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>The Pistons will send Brandon Knight to the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bucks</a> as part of the package for Jennings, league sources tell Y! Sports.</p>
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/362324192684802049">July 30, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Detroit will also send center Slava Kravtsov and forward <span>Khris Middleton</span> to Bucks as part of sign-and-trade for Jennings, sources tell Y!</p>
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/362324873089003520">July 30, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The upside? Milwaukee avoided overpaying Jennings and salvaged <i>something</i> from a difficult situation by acquiring Knight, who will earn just $6.3 million combined over the next two seasons and still has the potential to develop into a solid two-way combo guard. The downside? The 23-year-old Jennings <i>could</i> still figure out how to be a really good basketball player, while Knight was unconvincing during his two-year audition in Detroit.</p>
<p>Thankfully, time is on the Bucks' side with Knight, as they effectively reset the clock on their point guard position by getting a player who is two years younger than Jennings and also has two more years before he hits restricted free agency. I'm not necessarily expecting Knight to become a star, but his size (6'3"), shooting ability (.380 and .367 from deep first two seasons) and work ethic mean that he <i>should</i> develop into a solid third guard at the very worst.</p>
<p>While Knight's inability to get to the rim or line kept his true shooting numbers at Jennings-levels the last two seasons (51.1%), he should at a minimum provide a huge boost defensively over the horror show we saw from Jennings the past two seasons. The Pistons were dramatically better defensively when he was on the court last season (7.7 pts/100 better) and his opponent numbers were also impressive. The bigger question is whether he can learn how to run an NBA offense, a topic that <a href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9480183/josh-smith-future-detroit-pistons">Grantland's Zach Lowe pondered in detail in January of this year</a>. Be sure to check out the full article, but here's a sampler:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Knight has a clear future as a solid NBA rotation piece. He has already established himself as an above-average 3-point shooter, he's fast, and he works his tail off on the practice court and watching film. But Detroit cannot have watched the last two seasons and concluded the franchise point guard is already on the roster.</p>
<p>Knight is usually a half-second late reading the floor, which is admittedly a very tough thing for a normal human being to do in real time. Pause any pick-and-roll at the moment Knight darts around the pick, and you'll see 10 men in coordinated motion - Knight's big man rolling into space, an opposing big man rotating along the back line to stop him, and everyone else adjusting in kind. There are openings in that moment. The big man rolling might come open, and if he doesn't, that means the defense has tilted more than usual in his direction and left another of Knight's teammates open someplace else. The same patterns unfold again and again, and the best point guards learn to anticipate openings ahead of time, or even to coax the defense into surrendering a specific hole.</p>
<p>Knight can't do that - yet. You can see his eyes and brain working to understand how the defense is scrambling, and when you can see a point guard think like that - when he shows his work - that's bad. Sometimes Knight will spot the right pass, only he'll spot it a half-second too late, when the defense has already started to recover into position for a steal or deflection.</p>
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https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/7/30/4572746/report-bucks-and-pistons-nearing-sign-and-trade-deal-for-brandonFrank Madden