The Milwaukee Bucks and point guard Brandon Jennings have not yet been able to come to an agreement on a contract extension and while a trade is looking unlikely, reports say that the star may consider signing a qualifying offer with the team.
According to ESPN.com, Jennings is considering the qualifying offer after not being able to get an extension at over $10 million per year and while the team wants to sign him long-term, they don't want to overpay Jennings. At 23-years-old Jennings is clearly one of the top young point guards in the league and the deal would come in at under $5 million for this season and that would make him an unrestricted free agent after next season, something he could use to cash in as well.
Jennings has been solid with the Bucks, averaging 17.5 points and 6.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game last season while setting some career highs and he put up great numbers from long range with just under 40 percent, another career best. He shot over 80 percent from the line and shot just under 40 percent from the field, something he still needs to work on. Jennings has been rumored in trades to the Pistons and other teams and while that appears unlikely, it still could happen as Joe Dumars wants to get rid of Charlie Villanueva and Rodney Stuckey's contracts.
The Pistons feel that they are ready to contend with Josh Smith coming in to join Brandon Knight, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond and the team feels its turnaround time in the East. The Bucks have made a number of moves this offseason by signing OJ Mayo, trading for Luke Ridnour and signing Larry Drew to be head coach and Jennings may be on a much improved team this season if he stays.
The Pistons also added Chauncey Billups back and he brings his career averages of 15.4 and 5.5 assists in 16 seasons along for the ride. The team ranked 22nd in scoring last season and adding Jennings and Smith could help improve that big time.