Photo: brandonjennings.net
- Adam ParkerBrandon Jennings, the Milwaukee Bucks' leading scorer, told ESPN.com Thursday he will strongly consider packing up his talents and leaving Milwaukee for one of the league's larger markets once his rookie contract expires.
"I am going to keep my options open, knowing that the time is coming up," Jennings said in an email interview. "I'm doing my homework on big-market teams."
Jennings, 22, is in his third NBA season and will be eligible to sign a long-term deal with the Bucks this summer. Jennings can become an unrestricted free agent in 2014 if he signs a qualifying offer after next season.
Although Jennings has not yet established himself as an All-Star or maximum-salaried player, he's led the Bucks in scoring the past two seasons and currently has them in playoff contention after 'pulling a Greg Jennings' and putting the team team on his back after the loss of center Andrew Bogut to yet another injury.
Will Jennings really consider leaving Milwaukee, though?
Jennings' exciting style of play has re-invigorated the Bucks' fan base, and Milwaukee's brass views him as the cornerstone to the future of the franchise. That being said, the young point guard is not ready to commit to the franchise long-term.
"I'm not saying I won't (sign an extension with the Bucks) and I'm not saying I will," he said. "I'm just keeping my options open."
Jennings' desire to showcase his skills in a more prestigious market follows the league trend that began when LeBron James and Chris Bosh left Cleveland and Toronto, respectively, to join Dywane Wade in Miami in 2010.
Since then, Carmelo Anthony has forced a trade from Denver to New York; Chris Paul forced a trade from New Orleans to Los Angeles; and Orlando is on the verge of losing it's second Superman in as many decades.
Jennings is obviously not in the same class as those players, but he said their decisions have influenced them.
"When you start seeing other players like Dwight Howard or CP3, you start thinking," said Jennings, who is averaging 18.9 points and 5.3 assists for the Bucks.
Jennings has been forthcoming with the fact that his upcoming decision is all about business, and has nothing to do with Bucks, who took a chance on him and made him a lottery pick with the 10th pick in 2009.
"It has nothing to do with the city of Milwaukee or anything like that because that's where I started my career," Jennings said. "They've been nothing but good to me. (Coach) Scott Skiles and (general manager) John Hammond have been good to me. It's just that I'm understanding the business of basketball now."
"I'm going to keep playing hard every night for the Bucks as long as I'm there," Jennings said. "I'm not promising that's where my future will be. I will make sure me and (agent Bill Duffy) look at all the best options."
I have to admit, though I would love to see Jennings stick around in Milwaukee and be the face of that franchise for the next decade. However, should that not end up being the case, you have to appreciate the way he is going about the whole process and not turning it into a spectacle.
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