Brandon Jennings To Play In China

AUGUST 2: Having previously indicated that Jennings would earn $1.5MM on his new deal with Shanxi, Spears has updated his report, tweeting that the veteran guard’s one-year contract is worth $2.2MM. However, international basketball reporter David Pick maintains that it’s a $1.5MM agreement.

The difference between those numbers isn’t huge, but it’s notable for Jennings, who would have been eligible for a minimum salary worth about $2.1MM in the NBA.

JULY 28: Free agent guard Brandon Jennings is headed overseas for the coming season, according to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. Jennings tells Spears that he has agreed to a one-year, $1.5MM deal in China with Shanxi. Spears adds that the veteran hopes to return to the NBA once the Chinese season ends next year.

Jennings, who will turn 28 in September, was a reliable backcourt scoring option during his first six NBA seasons, but has seen his role and impact decline over the last couple years. After playing for the Pistons and Magic in 2015/16, Jennings played for the Knicks and Wizards in 2016/17, signing with Washington in March after being waived by New York.

Acquired in the hopes that he could provide steady, productive minutes behind John Wall at the point, Jennings struggled immensely in D.C., averaging just 3.5 PPG and 4.7 APG, with a shooting line of .274/.212/.706 in 23 games for the Wizards.

Assuming that Jennings’ new team in China is the Shanxi Brave Dragons, as Spears indicates, that news could have an impact on another free agent point guard. Last week, Ty Lawson said that he may be poised to join Shanxi, but his agent denied that anything was done, suggesting that his client remained in discussions with multiple international and NBA teams. If Jennings signs with Shanxi, Lawson figures to look elsewhere for work.