The Milwaukee Bucks are at a standstill with restricted free agent star Brandon Jennings and with the Minnesota Timberwolves looking at the same situation with star Nikola Pekovic as they work on an extension, there is a chance that the two teams could look to deal with each other to help get things done.
According to a report from SB Nation and Pro Basketball Talk, while a deal is "extremely unlikely", sources said that the two teams could explore a trade, especially if Jennings continues to be unreasonable in his demands with the team. The report says that the Timberwolves have no interest in trading Pekovic, but after how long the extension between the two has taken, there is a chance that a deal could go down at some point, although like the report said, it's very unlikely.
The Timberwolves love Pekovic after what he did for the team last season while averaging 16.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.8 blocks and owner Glen Taylor has already said that he does not want to deal the star. The biggest issue is likely money between the two sides and the numbers that first started trickling out were around a four-year, $50 million contract extension, which is what the final contract may end up being. The 27-year-old is seen as a primary piece by the Timberwolves that should team with Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love for years to come.
The Wolves signed Ronny Turiaf as an insurance policy in case something happen with Pekovic, although he obviously is nowhere near the talent that the young star is. Turiaf averaged 1.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 10.5 minutes in 65 games last season and signed a two year deal with the team and now Turiaf can at least be a solid backup for when the team signs Pekovic and someone who can play solid defense when needed.
While the deal with Jennings looks totally outrageous, there is a chance the team could flip him somewhere else like Detroit, as he is one of the best young guards in the league after averaging 17.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.1 blocks on 39.9 percent shooting last season with the Bucks.
Reports said that Jennings was asking for over $11 million per season and that is one reason why the Bucks have been waiting to see if the number will come down. The team already lost Monta Ellis and while they don't want to lose Jennings, they may not have a choice and one move that was made to help was trading for Luke Ridnour and the team also signed Carlos Delfino to a contract. Ridnour can handle the starting role for Jennings and while he obviously is not as talented as he is, if Jennings can't agree on a deal with the Bucks, the team may feel it's best to just move on.
The Bucks have a solid young core with Larry Sanders, Ersan Ilyasova and John Henson and with the 15th pick in the draft they could get another solid starter. The Bucks feel like they are trending upwards with players like Sanders, who greatly improved while doubling his scoring and rebounding over the season and Henson has also showed flashes of brilliance. Ellis is gone after signing with the Mavericks and now the team has even more scoring to make up for.
