In general, the 2017 free agency market has not been very kind to most players outside of the top few tiers of the league, but it has especially been tepid for two groups of free agents in particular: centers and veteran point guards.
Derrick Rose has to essentially sign the minimum to join the Cavaliers and now former No. 10 pick of the 2009 NBA Draft and starting point guard in Milwaukee and Detroit, Brandon Jennings has accepted a one-year, $1.5 million deal to play for China Shanxi.
Brandon Jennings agrees to one-year, $1.5M deal to play for China Shanxi, per @TheUndefeated pic.twitter.com/9TnHuDhPbc
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 28, 2017
Pretty incredible for a player with his talent in what should be considered his prime at the age of 27 to have to sign a one-year deal to play with a team in China, and not even for massive dollars.
Things really went downhill for Jennings after he tore his Achilles against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 24, 2015 as the starting point guard for the Detroit Pistons.
Since then he has bounced around with three teams, the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks and Washington Wizards and has failed to really have an effect or earn consistent minutes for any team.
Jennings has never been a great distributor for a point guard or the most efficient scorer (he has shot under 40% for his career), but he was an explosive and quick athlete that could explode for scoring outburst like his 55 point game his rookie season.
He has never fully regained after tearing his Achilles and may never be a starting caliber point guard or even an NBA player again at this point in his career.
