Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Brandon Jennings

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Brandon Jennings, Orlando Magic, T.J. McConnell, Philadelphia 76ers

Feb 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Brandon Jennings (55) dribbles up court against the defense of Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (12) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic acquired Brandon Jennings to provide some much-needed help at backup point guard. Jennings was a better option but still inconsistent.

The Orlando Magic did not get much star power in return for Tobias Harris in February.

The market, many supposed, for Harris was going to be at least a starting-caliber player who could be a part of the team’s future and grow into an All Star. That is, after all, how many viewed Harris even with his struggles to score. He had a lot of promise for a promising cash in.

Instead, Magic fans got Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova and the promise of cap space. The deal was sold on two levels. And one of those levels was to balance the rotation and get the Magic back into the Playoff picture.

And that is where the pressure fell on Jennings as much as anyone else.

Jennings has the reputation behind him that he got people’s hopes up. He certainly has the playmaking, shooting and scoring ability even coming off a torn Achilles a little more than a year ago. Jennings was going to be the focus as someone who could put up points in a hurry.

If there was a potential payoff in the short term of this trade, it was what this player could provide. The Magic were in desperate need of a sixth man and some instant offense and Jennings could do all that.

Maybe that was asking a bit too much. Jennings was good at getting shots up, but not great at making them at a high clip. And his game was still inconsistent.

It was still better than much of what the Magic had at the backup point guard position. Shabazz Napier and C.J. Watson both struggled to get consistent play as a backup point guard. Jennings was OK, but not much better.

Jennings was not quite 100 percent yet it seemed. He missed a few games with soreness in his achilles and so the Magic did not get the Jennings they hoped for in this short audition anyway. And now his contract expires and he will hit free agency, quite possibly with little chance the Magic bring him back.

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