Knicks Rumors: Team Bid Against Themselves For Brandon Jennings

New York Knicks Rumors: The Knicks are happy to have Brandon Jennings, but did they spend more than they had to on him in free agency?

New York Knicks rumors have been pretty quiet recently. The biggest question mark for the team was when would Derrick Rose return? Rose was in Los Angeles for a civil suit that alleged he and two friends raped a woman. They were not convicted, and Rose will be returning to the team in time for the regular season.

In his place, the Knicks first team offense was run mostly by Brandon Jennings. The Knicks signed Jennings as a free agent this summer, agreeing to a one-year, $5 million deal. Jennings was looking for a fresh start after an Achilles tear derailed his career.

At only 27-years old, Jennings should have plenty left in the tanks. The Knicks are a team that he has wanted to play for since he entered the NBA; he was vocal about his displeasure in the Knicks passing over him in the 2009 NBA Draft. The Knicks instead selected Jordan Hill eighth overall, while Jennings fell to No.10 to the Milwaukee Bucks.

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It made for a perfect match in free agency. Unwilling to go over $3 million for Langston Galloway, the Knicks were in the market for a veteran backup point guard. Jennings was looking to get a fresh, new start and felt he could do that with the Knicks.

This is where things get interesting. Jennings was unsurprisingly met with a cold market. Coming off the Achilles injury and having a poor statistical season, Jennings didn’t generate much interest. As told in a Newsday Q&A with Jennings, Phil Jackson called and Jennings said I’m coming.

"Q: What other teams were interested in you?Jennings: “Actually I didn’t get any offers from any other team but New York. A lot was because of my Achilles, nobody knew how healthy I was and things like that. I definitely put in the time this summer, lost a lot of weight. I made sure I was ready. When Phil (Jackson) called, I was like ‘Yo, I’m coming.’ It was a no-brainer … Shoot, I would have come here for a million. It didn’t matter. I just wanted to be in an NBA uniform and be somewhere where I had a chance to win, and New York City — why not?”Q: Do you feel like you have something to prove?Jennings: “I definitely do. It was 29 teams that didn’t want me so I definitely have a chip on my shoulder, and I definitely want to prove to everybody that I’m back and I’m healthy and I’m just a team player.”"

Put the pieces together there and things get a little fishy. Jennings had no outstanding offers and generated no interest. He was willing to take a minimum contract, yet Jackson and the Knicks handed him $5 million. If that is the case, then the Knicks, in fact, bid against only themselves as Jennings essentially said that no one wanted him as a free agent.

$5 million isn’t a lot of money compared to what some players were getting this summer. Exorbitant contracts were being given out left and right, so a proven player such as Jennings getting $5 million isn’t crazy. It is just the fact that he was willing to play for less and the Knicks still gave him more than the minimum.

Anyone that knows basic negotiation could guess that Jennings didn’t reveal that information. He was waiting out a deal, and got one from the Knicks and pounced. While the Knicks could have, theoretically, saved some money, Jennings still looks like a steal. He is already becoming a fan favorite in front of the home crowd during the preseason.

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Jennings and the Knicks are confident that he can return to form and lead the second unit. Jackson even said that Jennings has a chance to win Sixth Man of the Year. If that happens, Jennings will be well worth $5 million and a steal even at that price.

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