The Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets have been talking about a possible trade that would exchange Pistons guard Brandon Jennings for Nets forward Thaddeus Young, sources tell Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops.
Brooklyn would have no problem giving Jennings a long-term deal as they look to rebuild a team that is overwhelmed with veteran players.
Sheridan mentioned that the Nets might have to toss another player at the Pistons to complete the deal. Shane Larkin, who has a $1.5 million player option for next season, or Jarrett Jack, who has a $6.3 million team option for 2016-2017, could be answers. If Larkin or Jack went to Detroit, the Pistons would then deal someone like Reggie Bullock the other way to complete the trade.
"There are a lot of things that would fit financially," Detroit's coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy said.
Last season, the season for Jennings was cut short by an Achilles injury and the left-handed shooter only managed 41 games (28.6 minutes per game) with an average of 15.4 points, 6.6 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game. Across 20 games in the 2015-2016 year, Jennings has averaged 6.9 points, 3.3 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 17.6 minutes per game.
The NBA Trade Machine suggests that the trade for Young would give the Pistons four more wins than with Jennings. It is interesting to look at it that way, but only so much can be told on paper. The real wins and losses come on the court.
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Just a few hours after the info was released, Van Gundy shot down the Jennings to the Nets trade rumors, according to Aaron McMann of MLive.
"I got my email today from (general manager) Jeff (Bower) with all the discussions that have gone on, and there was no mention of Brooklyn and no mention of Brandon in any of it," Van Gundy said. "But hey, with the way you guys make (expletive) up this time of the year, it's always interesting to me to find out stuff that you guys know we're talking about that we don't know we're talking about. I find it interesting and amusing."
Earlier in the year, the New York Knicks were reported as one of the teams who were in on Jennings, however, the rumor mill has turned to the Nets.
"I read it. I thought it was funny," Van Gundy said. "I read some stuff. I don't read everything. I don't really read much of what you write about us, but I read all the rumor stuff nationally. Not everyday - I don't have time - but I'll go on and I'll look. It's always funny.
"And you guys know it too — 99.9 percent of the stuff that's out there will never happen. Mostly because 98 percent of it's just made up. It's just made up."