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Is Brandon Jennings right for the Orlando Magic?

By Kyle Williams

Jan 21, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings (7) dribbles the ball as Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) defends in the first half at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings (7) dribbles the ball as Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) defends in the first half at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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What is Brandon Jennings‘ role for this team? Is he merely a backup for Elfrid Payton, or is he something more?

The Magic have finally made a roster shake up, trading Tobias Harris to the Detroit Pistons for Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova.

This deal is even for different reasons for both teams. Detroit gets a versatile forward who is young, and Orlando gets veteran depth and skill. Ilyasova will likely play backup power forward for Aaron Gordon, providing some shooting off the bench.

But what is Brandon Jennings’ role for this team? Is he merely a backup for Elfrid Payton, or is he something more?

Obviously Jennings still has a lot to offer. This season, he has only been averaging 6.8 points and 3.0 assists per game. Noted, he has been playing behind Reggie Jackson, and he is coming off an Achilles heel injury that kept him out until December. So the time given has not been enough to show how much he can produce.

In the 2014 season, in Jennings’ first season with the Pistons, he averaged 15.5 points, 7.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Impressive, to say the least. He has the talent to score and get up shots. That was clear in his rookie year in Milwaukee when Scott Skiles was his coach originally.

Jennings is not a pass-first point guard and can be inefficient at times though. It is just something he needs to work on, and hopefully he capitalize on what he can already do.

Will be that player in Orlando? As he continues to work back from his Achilles injury, it would be rough to ask him to play at that level. Even general manager Rob Hennigan has admitted part of what the Magic have to do is help Jennings get back to the rhythm he had before the injury.

Elfrid Payton is kind of his opposite. Payton is a pass-first point guard, who is not a great shooter, but he can do other things to get the job done. Jennings can fill in the things Payton lacks. Jennings also has six years’ experience in the league, so he may even be a good mentor to Payton.

But it just seems extremely likely at this time Payton will continue to start.

It would not make sense for Jennings to be new to a team like Orlando, and be starting right off the bat — and Skiles said both Jennings and Ilyasova will start their tenure off the bench. He may not even start at all, depending on how much trust Scott Skiles has in Payton.

Still it is not like that is a problem or anything. In fact, Jennings off the bench could be a solution. In tight games, Jennings could even take the offense for himself and lead to a victory. He is that kind of player and something the Magic were looking for.

But this does not come without consequences. Shabazz Napier and C.J. Watson will see their minutes adjusted at point guard. Watson’s expected return likely eliminates Napier from the rotation and establishes a reserve backcourt with the steady veteran in Watson along with Jennings.

Overall, this was a solid trade. Tobias Harris served Orlando greatly, his game winners will be longtime Magic memories from this era.

Nonetheless, times change. Harris needed to be moved so the Magic can earn depth in other areas.

Next: Orlando Magic aim to hit the ground running after trade

Jennings fills one of those areas that will help them out. He is a low-risk, high-reward player that can help take the team to the next step.