Less than a week after acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic for essentially a 2017 first-round draft pick, team president Ernie Grunfeld has seemingly made another move to improve the Washington Wizards second unit. Per Woj, the Wizards have agreed in principle to sign former New York Knicks point guard Brandon Jennings. Jennings was waived on Monday, February 27 as the Knicks begin to clean house after another struggling season.
Jennings was in a loaded draft class in 2009 getting selected after Blake Griffin, James Harden, Steph Curry, and DeMar DeRozan as well as ahead of Jrue Holiday and Jeff Teague. The argument can be made that Jennings is not as good as these six individuals, but he is almost exactly what Washington needs in their backup point guard.
The eight-year veteran’s best days are behind him after averaging over 15 points and six assists per game in the first six years of his career in Milwaukee and Detroit. Since then, Jennings had played in Orlando last year before signing a one-year, $5 million deal with New York last summer. Jennings was averaging 8.6 points and 4.9 assists off the bench in under 25 minutes per game for the Madison Square Garden occupants.
Although Jennings would certainly be an upgrade over Washington’s current platoon system of Trey Burke and Tomas Satoransky, he will not be single-handedly taking the Wizards to the Eastern Conference Finals. Jennings is shooting just 34 percent from beyond the arc this season and his career mark is not much better at 34.9.
Moreover, Jennings defensive rating per 100 possessions is 114, which falls short of making up for is 105 offensive rating per 100 possessions for an overall -9 net rating. For comparison, Burke is 102 – 111 = -9 net and Satoransky is 103 – 110 = -7 net. Regardless, Jennings’ veteran savviness and playmaking ability will improve the second unit’s ability to score the basketball. Case in point, Jennings is averaging more assists per game than Burke (1.8) and Satoransky (1.9) combined.
Because Washington is already at a full 15-man bench, they will have to waive a player of their own. My money is that they eat the remaining money left on Burke’s $3.4 million rookie deal and sign Jennings to a veteran minimum contract, which he is willing to do because of the Wizards position to make the Eastern Conference Finals. Jennings has never made it out of the first round after losing Game 7 to Atlanta in 2010 and getting swept by Miami in 2013 as a member of the Bucks.
With the addition of Jennings, I foresee Scott Brooks relying on his bench more, without as much heartache when doing so, during the regular season before tightening the rotation before the playoffs. Washington finally has a reasonably capable backup at every position with Brandon Jennings, Bojan Bogdanovic, Kelly Oubre Jr., Jason Smith, and Ian Mahinmi. Instead of Brooks going with a completely bench filled lineup, Smith and potentially Oubre could see reduced minutes as starters like Otto Porter and/or Markieff Morris could serve as a bridge between the two units.
UPDATE (3/1/2017): The Washington Wizards officially announced the signing of Brandon Jennings and waiving of Danuel House an hour before their tipoff with the Toronto Raptors in Canada. Jennings is expected to be in DC when the Wizards return to again take on Toronto and where will wear No. 7.
"Brandon gives us playmaking ability and experience at the guard position while adding another scoring option as well,” said team president and general manager Ernie Grunfeld. “His presence, along with the recent acquisition of Bojan Bogdanovic and the continued progression of Ian Mahinmi, will help our team as we continue our push towards the playoffs.”
Because Washington was already carrying a full 15-man roster, the team had to release the rights to an intriguing 3-and-D rookie in House, but the Wizards hope to retain his services at the conclusion of this season. House missed an opportunity to see more than 50 seconds of play with Washington because of a fractured right wrist injury suffered in the D-League where he spent 10 games, including most recently before and after the All-Star break. Hoop District reported yesterday that House was back in the D-League, which may have been a sign he would be the one waived once Jennings was signed. We wish nothing but the best for House and his family that now includes a two-week baby boy.