Milwaukee Bucks: Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings – Who Stays and who goes?
The Bucks have an interesting dilemma regarding their two guards. Can they afford to keep Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis? Will one of them have to go?
Jennings and Ellis are influential to the Bucks’ potential playoff run. They’re third in the Central Division and stand in the seventh spot in the Eastern Playoffs. Considering their tough division fighting against Chicago and Indiana, there shouldn’t be a debate of whom the Bucks should keep.
However, contracts make this question relevant.
Jennings will be a restricted free agent after this season. His current contract for the year is $3,179,493.
Jennings averages 18.7 points and six assists per game. The Bucks should want to match any offer thrown at Jennings.
It’s possible they could also keep Ellis, but that decision could be out of their hands.
Ellis, who brings similar numbers as Jennings, scoring 18.6 points and 5.5 assists per game, has a player option for next year worth $11 million.
If you look at the numbers, they’re the same guard. It might not be worth keeping both, especially if Ellis decides to stay.
As the trade deadline looms, one or both could be moved before February 21st. Brandon Jennings would be the better option to move. Ellis’ contract would be problematic for other teams to handle. Yet, the Bucks can’t just let Jennings walk away.
Jennings and Bucks GM John Hammond couldn’t reach an agreement on an extension before the 2012-13 campaign. Jennings could be on the way out.
Hammond should try and get both guards to stay. Jennings and Ellis haven’t had time to gel and could emerge as a great NBA duo. We’ll never see that if they are driven to go their separate ways.
*stats from NBA.com
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