Brandon Jennings has returned from an Achilles tear injury, but the consensus is that the 26-year-old guard could likely end up being shipped soon.
With the acquisition of Reggie Jackson, Jennings has found himself dispensable with a surplus of guards on the Pistons lineup. Though he could slide to the shooting guard position, the fact remains that Jennings may not necessarily turn out as effective as he is as the point guard position.
With that said, there is one team that has been long linked to the 10th overall draft pick of the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2009 NBA Draft – the New York Knicks per Fox Sports.
The Knicks have invested heavily in beefing up their forward line and such was somehow shown with Carmelo Anthony and rookie Latvian Kristaps Porzingis leading the way.
And while the Knicks have a formidable frontline, it may be time to address their backcourt needs.
Jose Calderon has been holding forth, but he could be lacking something that could make the Knicks a complete team. He might be missing the drive-to-the-basket instinct the Knicks stand to benefit from, which makes Jennings a good fit, considering he has been known to do that and create situations.
But there is concern on Jennings and much of it is tied up with his recent injury. One is on whether he can still do the things he was known to do before, not to mention the way Jennings plans to play from here on.
The Knicks have reportedly been keeping tabs with Jennings, observing his state and his play ever since returning from an 11-month layoff.
That and of course the fact that Jennings carries a hefty price. He is currently in the final year of his three-year deal worth $24 million with the Pistons and is set to hit the free agent market in 2016.
The Knicks have the salary cap space to accommodate Jennings but just the same, Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher are probably weighing their options to try and see if adding Jennings to the backcourt would turn out for the best.
Should they decide to get Jennings, it may require the Knicks to send back Calderon to his former ballclub.
Aside from Calderon, the Knicks have tried to see what young guards like Jerian Grant and Langston Galloway can do per NBC Sports. To date, such has hardly harbored any fruit.
It should be noted as well that a one-for-one trade involving Jennings and Calderon may not be enough. This means the Knicks would have to sacrifice some of their young players like Grant or Langston.
Though the two have yet to show their potential, it should be noted that not all young guys blossom on the first try. Hence, Fisher and company may have to do the proper assessment – let them go or hold off and find the player/s with lesser evil to trade off.