NBA Trade Rumors: 5 destinations for Brandon Jennings
By Tom West
Utah Jazz
The Jazz excel defensively when they have Rudy Gobert on the floor, and since his emergence as an elite protector of the paint, that’s been their calling card. It’s what we know the Jazz for. When you think Utah basketball, you think of the Stifle Tower. What you don’t think of is offense, and that’s their real weakness that is going to hold them back.
The Jazz currently rank 27th in points per game (96.1) and dead last in assists per game (18). Without addressing these areas, it’s going to be hard to climb much higher up the NBA power ladder as they sit at 8th in the Western Conference.
This is where Jennings starts looking like a good fit, as he brings both the quickness (albeit in a comeback stage for now), driving ability and ball movement that can help the team’s weakest areas.
Perhaps if the Jazz deal Trey Burke to look for Jennings’ shot creation and passing at backup point instead, and include another rotation player to tempt the Pistons, they can increase their offensive output.
Even though Burke is having his best season yet (career-highs with a 43.2 field goal percentage, 35.4 three-point percentage), he is by no means irreplaceable. He’s a solid shooter, but the Jazz need more than that. They need someone who can create for others off the bench, and while Jennings enjoys having the ball in his hands and creating his own shot, he can create opportunities for teammates, too.
Over the last three seasons, Burke has averaged just 5.4 assists per 36 minutes. Jennings, meanwhile, has averaged 8.1, with an assist percentage virtually 10 points higher (36 to 26.2) than Burke as well. Of course, it’s going to take some time to adjust after tearing an Achilles tendon, but Jennings could have the perfect skill set to add such much-needed energy to Utah’s weak offense.