Monday, August 20th, 2012 at 10:01 am  |  141 responses

Brandon Jennings Would Like to Sign Extension with Bucks


by Eldon Khorshidi | @eldonadam

Entering his fourth NBA season and also the final year of his rookie contract, Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings knows the pressure to win is at a new, unforgiving level. After leading the Bucks to an improbable seven-game series against the Atlanta Hawks in his rookie season, Milwaukee has missed the Playoffs for two straight seasons, most recently posting a below-average 31-35 record during the lockout-shortened campaign. Jennings, like head coach Scott Skiles and general manager John Hammond, has not received a contract extension, and will be under the microscope this year. While aware of the situation, Jennings has high hopes for the Bucks, and wants to be a part of the organization for a long time—If it were up to him, he’d have a new deal signed and completed as soon as possible.

More details, via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings is hoping to have a contract extension in his pocket by the time the regular season opens on Nov. 2 in Boston. “It would be something I’d love to get done with and over with so I don’t have to worry about it,” Jennings said of the contract extension. “But the main thing is just to come into training camp a better player, a better leader … just lead the team to the playoffs.” Bucks management and Jennings’ agent, Bill Duffy, have until Oct. 31 to reach a deal. Jennings knows there will be plenty of pressure to win this season, particularly with coach Scott Skiles and general manager John Hammond in the final year of contracts. And the Bucks are coming off a 31-35 finish during the lockout-shortened season, marking a second straight season missing the playoffs. “With the team we have and the potential we have, we have a chance to be a top six seed in the Eastern Conference. That’s something I’m going to go into training camp talking about with the guys. Instead of saying we hope we make the playoffs, we just need to start saying, ‘We’re going to do it and we need to do it now.’”

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  • FnF

    Dwight Howard said the same thing not too long ago.

  • Shifty

    Should of been a All star last year, hope him and Monte can get some fluid to thier partnership and start causing terror in the back court.

  • LA Huey

    Why? Who doesn’t expect him to ask for a trade to LA before the extension would run out?

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ Corky

    Im not sure if skiles knows what to do with jennings and ellis offensively. Nets v.s. Bucks will be a great matchup.

  • Fat Lever

    I wonder if this decision has anything to do with the fact that in the new CBA, a players current team can offer the player considerably more money than any other team??? Nahhhhh……

  • Ismael

    It’s either they fire coach Skiles or he should get out of Milkwaukee.
    He needs to Run and Gun to maximize the use of his skills and not this half curt bullshit Skiles does in Milwaukee. They can’t score with Skiles on the Helm.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    I thought he would have taken the next step by now as a player. He should be competing for an All-Star spot. Unfortunately, I think Monta Ellis isn’t the right fit if they want Brandon to take that next step and become a top 10 PG. He’s talented enough to do it.

  • Da Real

    Under Armour does not want this. The face of the brand can’t be in Wisconsin! Lol

  • LA Huey

    @Fat, Definitely wants to have his cake and eat it too. I just hope, for his sake, he makes his trade request palatable for the masses.
    BAMN, give him time. I think the Skiles system highlights his weaknesses instead of maximize his abilities. In fact, I’m sure this backcourt will struggle until Skiles get fired (which he’s about due now).

  • ctk

    If im Philly im tradin Holiday for Jennings to pair with Bynum ..i know Holiday is more consistent but he dont have the mindset needed to beat the Heat …Jennings does n he wants the moment too

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Mindset doesn’t matter when going against the Heat if you don’t have two guys who can at least make LeBron and D-Wade work for what they get. Holiday is a better PG and player than Jennings at this point. He had no problem going at the Celtics this past season in the playoffs. I don’t think the system matters. If you have two guys in your backcourt who enjoy having the ball in their hands, it won’t work long term. Ellis is closer to an Iverson type than anyone else currently in the league. He needs the ball. Iverson played best with Eric Snow (defender, passer, solid player). Imagine Iverson and Marbury in the same backcourt for an 82 game season. Look at the talent on Milwaukee’s roster. Not enough shots to go around.

  • http://www.michaelcho.com M Cho

    It’s more likely that Skiles will be fired midseason.

  • pposse

    skiles the problem in milwauke.

  • ctk

    @ByAnyMeansNecessary..u think Holiday could avg. over 20pts a game over the course of a season

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Holiday is a better player. idk what makes people think Brandon Jennings is as good as Jrue Holiday. There is no reason to think that aside from one 55 point explosion.

  • mask

    Holiday is great and I hope the sixers kick major fanny this year. Go Cavs :)

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Cats haven’t been watching Jrue Holiday. That’s the only explanation. All Jrue has to do is figure out his mindset playing next to Evan Turner. Which means he needs to be more aggressive looking for his shot, particularly at the rim, and he just needs to be a more vocal leader. He is straight.

  • davidR

    byanymeansnecessary,
    nah man. ellis doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective. his offball movement is underrated. he knows how to cut to the basket or the open space. he has above average finishing ability at the rim, and has a pretty good midrange. people see his scoring abilities and immediately associate him with iverson

  • ctk

    overall Holiday a better player no argument but not pure scorer ..im usin the Heat cuz we all know they the bar n the East..they got to weak spots C/PG…i dont think he can score enuff to take advantage of the matchup n a series

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Jennings hasn’t proven he can score enough. He can shoot enough, but not score enough.

  • Austin

    Brandon’s better than Holiday, hes much more explosive and athletic. Jennings is better in nearly every statistic. Pts, stl, reb, you name it. The 55 point game was a curse for the young buck, he admits it himself. And he still finds his way to 19pts 6ast(needs to get higher) and 2stl every night. No doubt his j isnt consistent yet, but it has risen significant from last year. Jennings is going to make a deep run into the playoffs with Monta and earn his first All-Star Appearence. Book it!

  • Benjamin

    As a Hawks fan I would love to sign him this off season if teauge can’t reach his potential, Jennings game is crazy.

  • Benjamin

    *next offseason, my bad

  • http://thahiphopcorner.com Kevin

    I like Brandon Jennings but im not sure you can win with him as your starting point guard. But hey hopefully im wrong, but at the moment I just dont see it

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Holiday is sneaky explosive. My guess is people don’t pay too much attention to him. Watch the man play. He’s a better player than Brandon. He’s easily the best guard Philly has seen since Iverson. He’s now the 2nd most important player on that team behind Bynum. Most of Brandon’s major highlights at this point have come in summer league games. Let’s be honest here. Aside from the 55 point game against the Warriors, what other major highlights has he had thus far? Holiday is better than average. He can average 20 plus a game if needed. He now has the 2nd best center in the league on his team. Don’t be surprised if he has a breakout season. Also, I think this past season and especially the postseason has shown us that the Heat don’t really need too much out of their PG or center position. They played one of the best PGs in the world in Westbrook and didn’t have too much of a problem aside from that 43 point explosion (still won the game). They also didn’t exactly struggle with D-Rose last season in the ECF. I’d also question the guy who thinks the Bucks will make a “deep run into the playoffs”. At the expense of which team? Heat, Celtics, Nets, Knicks, Bulls, Hawks. Milwaukee isn’t better than any of those teams.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Being more explosive and having better numbers doesn’t automatically make someone better. Holiday is a better defender (by a country mile), passer, shooter and has a higher ceiling.

  • http://www.xvideos.com nbk troll

    Everybody can’t be a all-star especially @ the pg spot. A lot of these young guys who everybody thought would be the next big thing will just be another player in the NBA. (*cough john wall cough*) really though I wish the best for Brandon but pg spot too deep in the L right now for him to stand out and really live up to his potential

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    John and Brandon are in similar positions. John has some vets with him now so hopefully he learns from them. But at that PG position in the East, look at Deron Williams, D-Rose, Rajon Rondo. I don’t see another PG replacing any of those guys on the All-Star team. John or Brandon will have a shot this season though since Rose won’t be playing. He’ll definitely be voted in by the fans if he appears on the ballot but someone will have to replace him. I don’t see why it shouldn’t be John or Brandon if they live up to expectations.

  • http://Slamonline.com Black Mamba

    I know this is off topic but. I was wondering if you think any of these will happen
    Cleveland Cavaliers retire Lebron James number
    Denver Nuggets retire Carmelo Anthony’s number
    Toronto Raptors retire Chris Bosh’s number
    Phoenix suns retire Steve Nash and/or Amare Stoudemires number
    Orlando Magic retire Dwight Howard’s number
    Boston Celtics retire Ray Allen’s number

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Brandon Jennings statistics are better than Holiday’s for one reason and one reason only. Jennings has the ball in his hands all game, every game. Even with Monta on the roster, Jennings was shooting over 15 shots a game. His assist numbers are higher for the same reason. Jennings doesn’t average more steals. And is not in Holiday’s league as a defender. Holiday is one of the top 5 defensive PG’s in the NBA. Jennings was slightly above average his first two years (thanks to Andrew Bogut), but was rather horrible last year (without Andrew Bogut).
    .
    To say Brandon Jennings is better than Jrue Holiday is to say, “I don’t know what I’m talking about”

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I can tell you with 100% certainty Phoenix will retire Nash’s number.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Redd

    Really @ nbk? Idk I don’t see it happening. Don’t think it’ll happen with Raps, Nuggets, Magic, Celts, Or Suns but I see Cavs doing it if Lebron comes back one day.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Look, Steve Nash is the greatest player in Suns history (according to the Organization….which is the only thing that matters in this discussion). He played here for the majority of his career, and won 2 MVP’s. I am not unsure about if they will retire his number. I know they will.

  • Austin

    Until you watch Brandon’s games yourself like I do nbk, then you can say the man isnt a good defender or say hes not as good as holiday, and what the heck are you talking about Brandon playing terrible last year!?! Stats wise it was his best year. I think you dont know what your talking about nbk.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    @ nbk: What about Amare?

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Lol, first of all, I watch plenty of every team in the league.
    .
    - Jennings defensively (which is what I said) was horrible last year. You can look at any of his valuable defensive stats (which are not blocks and steals, those are irrelevant) – just look at how much better the Bucks defense was with Jennings on the bench….(the team gave up 109 points per 48 minutes with him on the court \by a huge margin, the worst any Scott Skiles defense has ever been/ and 98 points per 48 minutes with him on te bench) – Jennings basic offensive stats are ok, but in terms of what he actually provides a team? He’s nowhere near Jrue Holiday. If you suggested trying to acquire Jennings for Holiday to the 76ers front office (or to anyone in basketball) they would not hesitate to laugh in your face and immediately lose all respect for your opinion.

  • LA Huey

    Nash in PHX for sure. And Ray Allen SHOULD get his number retired in Boston. Boston LOVES retiring numbers. If you’re a HOFer that contributed to a championship Celtic squad you’ll probably get your jersery up in Boston. Ask Bill Walton.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Teddy, I doubt it with the way he left.

  • LA Huey

    LOL, yeah. I don’t know how nbk makes time for all his hoops-related activity. You have a daughter too, dont’ you?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    yeah, she watches hoop with me. Seriously, was sitting through playoff games at a 2 months old. From November through June i dominate the TV at home – just have hoop playing all night every night. Then from June through October I have to watch a ton of BRAVO network lol

  • Austin

    Alright nbk, im not going to fight over an opinion of who we think is the better bball player. But I watched ALOT of bucks games last year being from Wis and i see an nba all-star in jennings this year whether you think it or not. Jennings and Ellis will no doubt be in the top 3 as in the best backcourt in the league. We just picked up to 2 veteran centers (dalembart and pryzbilla) which is going to help alot. I see a deep run in the playoffs.

  • MirChilly

    Brandon is by far better than Jrue. Brandon just happens to play for a bad team and horrible coach. Jrue has never been asked to carry a team while Brandon has. Bogut was injuried the past few years which prevented him from getting to the playoffs. Add that with Skiles benching SJax, messing with Luc mins and over-playing Drew Gooden. Add in injuries and lack of shooters (reason for low assist numbers) and lack of athletic players, I’m surprised he has played as well as he has. No knock on Jrue, good player, but add Brandon on the Sixers they finish with a higher seed and even knock off the celtics. Plus Evan will be the primary ball-handling in the half-court offense this year.

  • Austin

    Thanks MirChilly, totally agree, ill admit they didnt do good last year, but they’re going to be great this year, and I do think Skiles is too much of a defensive minded coach

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    You can see whatever you want. Doesn’t mean what you think will happen as any chance of actually happening.
    And, I don’t just watch one team, I’m not saying Jrue is better than Jennings because I’ve watched a ton of one and not the other. I’ve watched a ton of both, I’ve talked to a lot of people who have done the same, and NONE of them think Jennings is as good as Holiday. I watch all 30 teams all season.
    . Also, Jennings is not an All Star in the East unless there are a plague of injuries – (Deron Williams, Derrick Rose* Rajon Rondo, Kyrie Irving, John Wall) are pretty much a lock as the All-Star point guards in the East for the foreseeable future. With Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson being the other guards who will more than likely end up to be all stars. I will say this though, If Jennings ever were to earn an All Star spot on performance alone, now is the time to do it. The East won’t get much weaker than it is now at the guard position.
    .
    Oh and if “a deep playoff run” is what you see, then, uhm, you should see an optometrist.

  • Austin

    Oh yes and what you see must be the truth. All I see hear is someone who sit on their couch all day and watches “ALL” 30 nba teams.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Next seasons projected top PG’s:
    CP3
    D-Will
    Russel Westbrook
    Kyrie Irving
    Rajon Rondo
    Tony Parker
    Steve Nash
    John Wall
    Kyle Lowry
    Jrue Holiday
    Brandon Jennings
    .
    I just felt like making a list.
    D-Rose will have to prove himself when he gets back.
    Brandon Jennings could make a jump on this list. I wouldn’t be upset with anyone having him a spot or 2 higher.

  • LA Huey

    Awesome. My 16 month old will only do it if we practice her passing during commercials. Ha.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    MrChilly, Drew Gooden was “overplayed” (3 whole more minutes a game than LMAM) because he was the second most productive and efficient player on the team. (The most? Ersan Ilyasova) – 8 of the Bucks top 10 lineups featured Gooden. Just because he is not very good, doesn’t mean he wasn’t one of the better players on the Bucks. And the reason that Skiles “messed with Luc’s minutes” is simple, Luc added absolutely nothing offensively. He was less productive then his opponent, even with his stellar defense. So there is no real reason to play a guy, who is a net negative on the court, for heavy minutes, unless you are trying to lose.
    .
    Scott Skiles is a good coach, he’s smart. His only problem historically, is he is too hard on his players, and typically loses a locker room after a couple years. But he is not the reason the team was not very good, and he is not the reason Jennings didn’t look better. Jenning’s is playing in the exact situation he wants to play in….one where he is tasked with more responsibility than he would anywhere else. In Philadelphia, he likely would not have got that many minutes, certainly would not have had the responsibility that Holiday carries for that team. Which would be obvious, if you knew anything about Doug Collins.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Huey, I can’t wait till she gets old enough to do that. I don’t expect her to be as patient with watching hoop the older she gets, since she will have more of a choice what activity she does. I’m assuming, this upcoming season will be the least basketball i’ve watched in years. Probably since high school.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Lakeshow, you think Kyrie will be better than Rajon this year? Really tho? — And you are forgetting Steph Curry, unless you think Curry will be injured all year? If not, Curry is better than Jennings too.

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