Empty the Bench

By: Zachariah Blott

Dear Mr. Hammond,

I love the Bucks. I love our Christmasy green and red logo and stoic reindeer. I watch Michael Redd’s picturesque 3-point stroke in my sleep. I root for Andrew Bogut’s effort and every-once-in-a-blue-moon 20-rebound games.

Because of this deep-seeded love, I implore you to not buy out Brandon Jennings’ contract and to keep him in Italy for at least one more season. I want a Bucks team that can win games, and I have a bad feeling that placing Jennings in a significant role next year will provide far more highlights of crossovers leading to missed jumpers than W’s to this franchise.

A point guard’s job on the offensive end is to run the team: making smart decisions passing the ball, avoiding turnovers, and scoring the ball when the defense takes away other options. Jennings played in 43 games last year—granted, only 18 minutes per—for Lottomatica Virtus Roma as part of the Italian League and in the Euroleague, and it doesn’t appear that he can do any of these things yet.

He shot a combined 38% from the field, and a lowly 23% from behind the arc, which is actually 3 inches closer than the one used in college and 3 feet closer than the league’s. DraftExpress.com calculates shooting statistics for specific situations, and Jennings continues to come out as a dud. He hit only 21% of his pull-up jumpers, 25% of his shots off pick and rolls, and 25% of his shots when isolated one-on-one. Apparently he scores best off the catch-and-shoot, something to which point guards should not get accustomed to.

With Jennings’ world-class speed against notoriously flat-footed European defenders, he only attempted 1.4 free throws a game, hitting a mediocre 69% of them. This low amount of free-throw attempts are a result of only getting fouled on 6% of his shots, which would rank in the bottom 15% of the NBA, a league that has much better defenders at the point-guard position. This indicates that either he’s not very successful at driving into the lane or that he avoids contact to his willowy frame with that ridiculous fade-away-leg-kick jumper.

Thankfully, Jennings’ chief job as a point guard wouldn’t be scoring, but rather taking care of the ball while setting up his teammates. Well, was pretty bad at that too. His 2.0-1.4 assists-turnovers rate indicates he isn’t the best decision-maker. Other evidence? With all that quickness, Jennings actually committed more fouls per game, 2.1, than free throws attempted or assists.

In addition to poor on-court decision making, Jennings kept things interesting away from the hardwood. He criticized his Roma coach for hard practices, started a Ricky Rubio controversy with the weak dis of “the dude is all hype,” and the NCAA redflagged his vastly improved SAT scores a year ago.

Read the rest of this open letter to John Hammond after the break…

If you can resign Ramon Sessions, we’ll have a point guard who posted decent statistics in his first NBA season as a starter. In 27 minutes per game last year, he had a fantastic 5.7-1.9 assist-turnover rate and shot a passable 45% from the field for 12.4 points. Sessions smartly avoided foul trouble but was able to get to the line 4.5 times a game, converting 79% of his freebies. He offsets his average athleticism with the passing skills and decision-making abilities we need at the point.

Our backup, Luke Ridnour, had a nearly as impressive 5.1-1.8 assist-turnover rate, and hit a respectable 35% of his 3-point shots. His overall scoring ability is so-so, but he makes enough solid decisions to put Redd and Bogut in positions to score.

If you had drafted a European-born player who had two-year-old And 1-esque highlights against teenagers but no real production to speak of, it would be a no-brainer to leave him overseas to gain valuable experience. This situation isn’t much different. The God-given ability is there; the readiness is not.

Please save the $2 million in salary and buyout by allowing Jennings to work his potential into usable NBA skills while on the Roma club. He can’t help us next year, but we’re willing to wait until he shows that he can.

Yours truly,

#1 Bucks Fan

Zachariah Blott is an English teacher in Portland, not an Amish Charles Dickens character.