The NBA trade market appears to have quieted down after Brandon Jennings was dealt to the Detroit Pistons from the Bucks, but after reports have surfaced that the team is still interested in acquiring Rajon Rondo, it raises the question of whether Jennings will get dealt again this season.
The Pistons have been rumored in deals with the Celtics all offseason and before the Jennings trade there were reports that the two teams were discussion options, but they didn't move too far. Now more reports have come out and according to Pro Basketball Talk, the Pistons are still interested in acquiring Rondo if he is on the block and as he recovers from surgery, the Pistons may be working on another deal with Jennings that could allow the team to deal for Rondo. The report says that a number of teams are interested and that Joe Dumars wants Rondo despite trading for Jennings.
The Pistons may have thought about trading Brandon Knight or Rodney Stuckey in a deal for Rondo earlier in the offseason, but now Knight is on the Bucks and Jennings right now is their biggest chip. They could move him for other players to deal for Rondo, or the Pistons could enter a three-way deal with a team to get Rondo and move Jennings. While a number of teams will be interested in Rondo, one team that could help out are the Philadelphia 76ers. Earlier this offseason general manager Sam Hinkie said that the team is in good position to help with trades and since they are rebuilding, they might be a perfect fit for a three team deal.
On top of that, the Sixers traded away their own All-Star point guard in Jrue Holiday to the Pelicans for Nerlens Noel and snagging Jennings could be a smart move, as they have one of the highest amounts of cap space open in the NBA right now. The team traded Holiday to the Pelicans to get his $41 million contract off the books and adding Jennings' new contract wouldn't be as much of a burden as that deal was. Holiday was excellent for the Sixers last season and he averaged 17.7 points and eight assists and now Noel joins the franchise after averaging 10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds as a freshman in college.
The Sixers have some pieces they could move in a deal, including Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner and Young likely would be the centerpiece if any team made a deal. Last year Young had one of his best seasons, averaging 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game with nearly 2.0 steals per game and his size could give teams and advantage where he plays. Hawes put up great numbers as well with nearly a double-double in points and rebounds and he potentially could be an All-Star in the future with the correct development. The Sixers also have Royce White and after going just 34-48 last season, the team may want to rebuild.
Jennings could be a part of that or the team could play off another deal in the hopes of being so bad that they can draft presumptive number one pick Andrew Wiggins, who averaged 23.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in high school before going to Kansas. The Sixers ranked 30th in points scored per game last season and adding a talent like Jennings could help improve that in the short term and the Sixers could also use him as their own trade chip if they deal for him this season or during the offseason before the schedule starts.
Turner was a top pick and the team may feel it is ready to move on and with Jennings averaging 17.5 points and a career-high 6.5 assists, he could be a very important player to get in return. The Bucks and the point guard were at an impasse about his contract and now he has a three-year, $24 million deal and that is more manageable than the $11 million he reportedly was asking for. While no deal is imminent, it could fit for both sides if the Pistons can get the Celtics to deal Rondo.