Phoenix Suns: What to expect from Brandon Knight

The Brew City Knight

Like Jennings in Detroit, Knight fared rather well in the Milwaukee Bucks. Although the team performed poorly, going 15-67 in the 2013-14 season, Knight improved across the board.

Despite only playing 1.4 minutes more per game than he averaged in Detroit, Knight’s scoring average jumped from 13.1 to 17.9, and his assists increased from 3.9 to 4.9 per game. He even managed to keep his turnovers relatively constant, actually going down to 2.6 from 2.7 in Detroit.

His 3-point shooting dipped to 32.5 percent, but he increased his percentage on 2-point shooting and free throws simultaneously – no small task for a young player taking on an increased role.

Knight and Middleton led the Bucks both in minutes played and points scored on the season, and it looked like they could be part of the core for a long time (along with a rookie named Giannis Antetokounmpo).

The Bucks even got the second pick in the draft, which they used on Jabari Parker, and the Bucks looked to be on the upswing.

Knight started next season even hotter than the previous one.

He averaged 17.8 points per game, which was technically a slight downturn from 17.9 the year prior, but he did so more efficiently; he shot better from 2-point range and the free throw line, and his 3-point shooting rocketed up to 40.9 percent.

He posted career-high averages in assists, rebounds and steals, with 5.4, 4.3 and 1.8 per game respectively. The only negative was a slight increase in his turnovers to 3.2 per game.

However, come the trade deadline, Brandon Knight would be moved again. The Bucks, like the Pistons, wanted a more complimentary piece around Middleton and the rapidly developing Antetokounmpo.

There were other reasons than just concerns about fit as well. The Bucks lacked the necessary depth for a playoff push, and Knight was likely their best asset who was still expendable.

Close to the cap, the Bucks probably also didn’t want to pay a big extension to Knight when they wanted to earmark that money for their more integral core pieces.

So, the Bucks shipped off Knight and Kendall Marshall (whose season was already over with a knee injury) to Phoenix. In return, they received Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis, and Miles Plumlee.

It seemed like a fine trade for the Bucks at the time: replace one point guard with a slightly cheaper, though not quite as good one (remember, MCW was the reigning Rookie of the Year at the time) and add two bench members for your troubles.

No one could’ve guessed that, years later, the most valuable asset in that trade would end up being the Lakers pick.