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.’”

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , ,

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Man, if you’re just cracking 40 percent from the floor in year 3 then you kind of have to dial back the expectations somewhat.
    I like Jennings, but based on where he was a rookie, he should be better by now and he’s not.
    Still settles for a streaky jumper, still not an elite passer, still struggles to finish at the rim despite crazy hops.
    There is a problem people.

  • Austin

    Yeah he finally shot 42% last year, he needs to become a more consistent jumper, ill admit that, and I dont know why he doesnt throw it down often, he does have a 38″ vertical!

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Jennings did shoot 58% at the Rim last season……but, 37% from 5-9 feet. – actually, sub 40% from everywhere else.

  • http://www.stillonthebench.blogspot.com TR

    Jennings needs to improve mentally more than anywhere else. He clearly has the talent and works hard, but I think his IQ needs to be better and he needs to finally get stronger.

  • davidR

    i havent seen too much of jennings, but when i do catch him, his tear drop/runner in the lane is pretty bad. no touch, and it doesn’t look soft. might explain why he’s 37% from 5-9 feet nbk

  • http://www.slamonline.com nbk Troll

    kyrie > Rondo… ALL DAY.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Hmmm.. Better?
    No, probably not.
    He is just more well rounded.
    I think he(Kyrie) has elite scoring ability. Should be a 20+ PPG scorer for his career.
    He was a rookie last year and had only played what, 5 college games?
    His upside is probably the greatest of any PG in the L right now. (saying something considering I like J-Wall’s game and upside)
    Is he better than Rondo next year? Really tough call for me, but your probably right in thinking Rondo is better than Kyrie.
    Irving was so impressive as a rook that I will keep him ahead of Rondo for now I spose. Close call for me though.
    Curry I would have as high as #7-8 depending on his health. He and D-Rose are hard for me to place in there.

  • http://www.slamonline.com nbk Troll

    Trade Kyrie and rondo last season. do cavs do any better??? No because rondo do bring them points. he is just a energy guy that happens to play with hof’ers. Do celtics beat miami??? Yes Kyrie is that MAN. #UNCLEDREW

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Jennings has to improve his shot selection and be more interested in getting his teammates involved especially with the roster they have. I don’t think he’s ever been asked to carry a team. Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut were the leaders his first season. Stephen Jackson was there before being traded. With Bogut gone, he should take over. I think people watch how he plays and think that just because a player is a little flashy, he’s better than the guy who just gets it done without any showmanship. That’s the main reason why not a lot of people talk about Tim Duncan. Skill for skill, Holiday is better. Also, how can a coach be too defensive-minded? Does Skiles want to stop the other team from scoring too much? What does that mean?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I feel like Irving will eventually be better than Rondo. But I can’t see him doing it this year. — I understand what my troll said about the Cavs not improving much if you substituted Kyrie for Rondo because of Irving’s scoring ability, but you can’t honestly try and say Irving would have improved the Celtics….that team was going as far as Rondo took them. I think Irving is a better individual basketball player, but Rondo is a much much better team guy assuming they are both surrounded by good players.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Just because Kyrie can shoot better doesn’t make him better. I was more impressed with Rondo last year against Miami than I was of him any other year. When LeBron kicked his game into killer mode, Rondo was the only Celtic who could match that level. He can’t shoot consistently and it’s a problem, but he does everything else at an amazing level.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Rondo is an energy guy who just happens to play with Hall of Famers? How high does one have to be to believe that let alone say it?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    who here even has the Bucks making the playoffs? I don’t.
    .
    .Miami
    .Boston
    .Brooklyn
    .Indiana
    .Philadelphia
    .New York
    .Chicago
    .Atlanta
    .-
    .Milwuakee
    .Washington
    .Cleveland
    .being the Hawks competition for 8th.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    ^Someone said that Kyrie is better because he can shoot?
    Poor argument by that person..

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    How do you all create your opinions on who’s the best PG? Stats, wins, matchups?

  • http://www.slamonline.com nbk Troll

    @ nbk.. Rondo is a better TEAM guy? Duh he plays on a better TEAM. “I think Irving is a better individual basketball player”(YOUR WORDS)

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Combination of everything.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    @nbkTroll Garnett, Allen and Pierce have Rondo to thank for extending their careers. Without Rondo, Garnett would be retired, Reggie Miller would still be the reigning 3 point king, and Paul Pierce would have even more mileage on his body.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    yes, Rondo is a better team guy. In a game of one on one, Irving would probably win, because he possesses better individual basketball skills – Rondo is a better team player. Better passer, better rebounder, way way better defender (both individually and within a team) and a much much much much much much much much better leader. The only reason i said i understand what you were saying about Rondo in Cleveland is because that team is SO bad, that having a guy that makes the whole team better doesn’t really do much. Making someone who is horrible, into someone who is just bad, doesn’t get wins. It’s not like Rondo can shoot his way to wins like Steve Nash had the ability to do in Phoenix. But if you took Rondo and Irving and separately put them on the same team (via cloning lol) Rondo would improve more teams more drastically. Rondo is a better player when you factor in everything. Irving is a better individual, with a higher ceiling. Can someone make this easier to understand? I am even confusing myself rereading this.

  • http://Slamonline.com Black Mamba

    Damn it I forgot will the Hornets retire cp3 or not

  • http://Slamonline.com Black Mamba

    I personally think that
    The cavs will. Still greatest Cav of all time
    The nuggets won’t. Never did anything for them
    The magic will. Leading scorer in franchise history
    The raptors won’t. Chris bosh never won anything with them
    The celtics should but won’t
    Suns will not retire amare
    Hornets shouldnt but will retire cp3

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    I’m not sure about CP3. If you’re only talking about the Hornets in New Orleans and forgetting about when they were in Charlotte, then so far, the best player in New Orleans Hornets history is Chris Paul easily. And if they’re not going to retire his number, then there’s not a player who’s number should be retired who’s played there up until this point.

  • davidR

    byanymeansnecessary,
    jennings led the bucks after bogut went down to injury. he helped push the hawks to 7 games.
    also, ellis doesn’t need the ball to be effective on offense. his movement without the ball is really underrated. he knows when to cut to the basket, is one of the best finishers at the rim, and knows how to use off ball screens to get open

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Well, there’s nothing else Kyrie does better.
    He doesn’t pass better, doesn’t run a team better, doesn’t defend better either. He shoots better and scores better mainly because he shoots better.
    On the other hand, Rondo is better at everything else involved in playing basketball.
    So, if you have another reason for thinking Kyrie is better, go ahead and drop it.

  • http://slamonline.com Datkid

    ^^makes sense to me nbk. Kyrie has awesome skills but they don’t necessarily translate to making everybody around them better. Rondo’s skills while not as good as kyrie’s do, but can’t improve a terrible team to a significant degree. sound about right?

  • http://www.slamonline.com nbk Troll

    NBA game is scored on POINTS! not assist not rebounds not stops POINTS. Rondo dont score many just 12 a game. thats 3 buckets and 3 trips to the line. Dont get me wrong i love the way Rondo play, i love how he broke his arm fighting for a loose ball and then came back in to play!!! but if it were not for his assist nobody would care, and assist are just points that SOMEBODY ELSE scored.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk troll

    Kyrie has a way better handle than rondo and is faster too. its hard to say rondo is a better passer when he is passing to bettr players.

  • http://Slamonline.com Black Mamba

    Kyrie Irving is not better than Rajon Rondo. No way.

  • http://slamonline.com Datkid

    also nbk troll you the homie and all but i disagree… this is john wall’s year until he proves otherwise. i think he squeaks in with the 8th seed. hopefully he’s been working on that broke @ss jumper too. and I hate to say this bc i was a big fan of brandon jennings but yes Jrue is better right now. i will say that brandon jennings is more athletic, aggressive, and that i wouldn’t count him out as a “regular player” just yet. there have been flashes..like his 40 against the heat and his 30+ against D.rose. w/ that said tho, i think the homie John Wall still slides into an all-star spot before BJ and kyrie do tho.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    basically Dat. I mean, maybe i’m wrong, maybe Rondo would have a Nash like effect on a terrible team (shout out to Allen, on what I just said, I know you loved it) – but idk if he would because teams wouldn’t have to worry about him shooting. Regardless, I know for certain that Rondo is a better player than Irving right now, I just wanted to understand why Lakeshow said what he said. The whole Irving is a superior scorer aspect of it should have been obvious, frankly, i should have figured that out.
    .
    And, in my opinion, If Rondo could shoot, not only would he not be in this conversation, the only conversation he would be in, is best player in the league. He would be, far and away, the best PG in the league if he could shoot. According to Doc Rivers, Rondo is the smartest player he’s ever seen. That’s got to tell you something about the guy. It’s not like Doc is some guy who has never been around elite players before. Couple that with what he does to help win games, and the prospect of being able to shoot, and he would be one of the best we’ve ever seen.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    @nbk I agree. If Rondo could shoot, he’d easily be the best PG in basketball and he’d be the 2nd best player behind LeBron in the league.

  • http://slamonline.com Datkid

    honestly… Jennings played great when he got a decent big P&R man, maybe a trade to LA, where he could learn from Kobe and Nash and play with Dwight and Pau, would make him better.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    troll, honestly, that is the dumbest argument you could possibly make about PG’s. If scoring ability is all it took to be an elite player, then the NBA would look DRASTICALLY different. Some of the best scorers in the world are sitting on NBA benches. Simply because they can’t do anything else. Sh*t, ask Jamal Crawford how being one of the best scorers in the league has helped his status as a “great player” – or Jason Terry…..sh*t, ask Charlie Villanueva how valuable it is to only be able to score. — It’s a team sport for a reason.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk troll

    The cavs will. Lebrons coming back!
    The nuggets will. What else they got going
    The magic wont. too ugly of a break-up
    The raptors won’t. Chris bosh never won anything with them
    The celtics will. classy orgnization
    Suns will not retire amare
    Hornets will retire cp3

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Wall better step it up this season. I’m tired of defending him and always talking about how he has the potential to be the best PG. Wash got rid of most of the knuckleheads around him and surrounded him with a decent cast (Beal/Nene/Okafor). He has to improve efficiency wise, make that team competitive on most nights and be in discussion for the all-star PG spot out East. He is going into his 3rd season when most great players start to fulfill their potential, so I don’t think I’m expecting too much from him.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Dat, what you talkin about? when was Jennings great? The first 3 weeks of his career? That was his peak so far. — And him getting traded is pretty much not happening. The situation for him in Milwuakee, aside from it not being a big market, is all he could hope for. And the Bucks know, nobody they could get back of value for him, would want to stay there. — All of that, and LA has no money, players, or means to acquire anyone else, especially a guy like Jennings who is younger than 25, and due a big payday.

  • http://Slamonline.com Black Mamba

    This nbk troll guy is an idiot. To be an elite PG, you need speed, quickness, a jumpshot, three ball, passing ability, and most importantly you have to make your teammates better. Just scoring ability is usually the SG’s criteria.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Kyrie has only played 1 NBA season and barely played in college. That is my reason for having him above RR, even though I have no problem with Rondo being above him. It’s not about scoring, it’s about what Rondo has shown us over his career and what Irving has shown us.
    For all we know Irving could drop a 22,9,4 on 48% shooting with a steal and a half. That’s arguably a better player than Rondo. Rondo doesn’t make the Cavs better than Kyrie. So I’m fine with my argument.

  • http://slamonline.com Datkid

    lmaooooo i forgot charlie villanueva used to get buckets. and yeah I agree with that i think his weakness creating his shot would really hinder his ability to take a terrible team far. however Jason Kidd took teams to the finals while not being able to shoot consistently so idk.

    Riddle me this tho. If rondo could shoot would he be better than Dwight or KD?

  • http://www.slamonline.com nbk troll

    i will end it on this cause i know i am in the minority. Rondo avgs +1 more rebound, +1 more steal, and +7 more assist. Kyrie avgs + 7 more points, and is not passing to HOF’ers(3 of the best to play @ their respective posistions) so they can score. Rondo is all-star caliber, Kyrie is Superstar caliber.

  • http://Slamonline.com Black Mamba

    I went with Rajon because he’s proven. But overall Kyrie is way better. If Kyrie had Rondo’s team then Cektics are way better.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Lake, I can guarantee you right now Irving doesn’t put up 9 assists a game. I am not arguing with you about your reasoning though, it makes sense. Although, when you said, “it’s about what Rondo has shown us over his career and what Irving has shown us” it made me kind of shutter. You are factoring in what Rondo does in the playoffs right? Because, he did average a triple double in a series against Chicago a couple years ago, and then had one of the greatest games in playoff history against Miami this year, you know, to go along with his playoff averages of 17PPG, 7RPG, 12APG, 2.3STls on 46% shooting….Irving was really good, but his career high last year was 32 – it’s not like he ever had anything even kind of resembling one of those Rajon Rondo performances. — ehh, the more I look at it, the more crazy it seems to me to predict Irving to be a better player than Rondo this season. That just isn’t happening.
    .–
    .Dat, Jason Kidd had a good supporting cast, specifically for the way he played the game. Rondo has had that too, and been to 2 finals as well. Last season, for example, without Rondo, Boston would have likely been ousted in the first round, with him? they took Miami, the eventual champions, to 7 games. Wh

  • ctk

    Holiday is just a shorter version of Iggy …they need a guy n there who can get buckets n will force u too guard ..Jennings can do plus he can still get the assist…its hard playin for the Bucks doin all u can n u still got a 60-70percent chance of losin…put him n a better situation i believe he does more than Holiday

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    ANd no, Irving would not improve the Celtics if you traded Rondo for him. That idea is frankly, stupid. — That team is built around Rondo and what he does. Even if Irving was a better player he wouldn’t be better for that team than Rondo. There are only 2 PG’s in the league that you can even make the argument that they would fit better than Rondo in Boston, and they are the 2 best PG’s on earth.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    .Please just try and realize Holiday shoots around 40% from 3.
    .He’s a way way better shooting than Jennings.
    .And let’s also note how good Holiday was in the playoffs. There is no reason to believe he is not going to be even better next season than he was this year. Jennings on the other hand? hasn’t improved much since his rookie year.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    @ctk Jrue Holiday is a shorter Iguodala? First of all, he’s not. Second of all, if he was, that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all given that Iguodala is probably the second most versatile wing player in the league behind LeBron.
    @nbk Truth. Just watch the Celtics offense without Rondo on the floor. Stagnant. Only Chris Paul and Deron Williams would fit in anywhere.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Wait who is the weirdo making that argument?
    Someone said that Irving would make the Celtics better?
    WTF?
    Idiot, whoever that was. Rondo is tailor made for that Celtics team. Irving is better for the Cavs. That should be obvious.
    The 9 assists might be high, but I honestly would not be surprised at all to see Irving with 8+ assists next season. Which is an elite play maker.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I would be surprised. Primarily because there are no scorers on that roster. And frankly, I am not a big Waiters fan. he is supposed to come and provide that team with #4 pick in the draft type of offense from the SG spot? Yet he couldn’t start for Syracuse? idk. Sorry that is kind of unrelated, but the Waiters thing has been bothering me since the draft.

  • http://slamonline.com Datkid

    great is a strong word, but he was decent when he had bogut. that’s what i meant. and yeah you’re right there’s no way he goes anywhere near where he was thinking of going (LA)

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndyfsS0bFK8 nbk

    Click my name and tell me Kyrie Irving could do that.

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
Advertisement