Dec 27, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Knight (11) and Milwaukee Bucks power forward Khris Middleton (22) defend against Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Joe Johnson (7) in first half of NBA game at Barclays Center. Nets won 104-93. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
#2 Best Move: Trading Brandon Jennings For Khris Middleton & Brandon Knight
Utter larceny.
That’s the only appropriate way to describe what John Hammond did to the Detroit Pistons. Consider this move the make-up trade for the Tobias Harris fail.
It’s the summer of 2013 and the relationship between supposed star Brandon Jennings and the Milwaukee Bucks franchise had officially spoiled. Jennings had made it clear he had no intention of staying in Milwaukee long-term, at least not at the rate the Bucks were paying him.
So instead of suffering a piece that didn’t want to be there, John Hammond moved him to the Pistons in exchange for Khris Middleton and Brandon Knight.
Shortly over two years later it’s laughingly obvious the Bucks were the primary benefactors of the deal.
Hindsight is 20/20.
At the time of the trade Khris Middleton was considered to be a borderline rotation player and relative unknown along the NBA landscape.
The higher-profile Brandon Knight was known primarily for getting destroyed by DeAndre Jodan on this unforgettable play, not for any specific basketball prowess.
WOW.
In the two years past since the trade Khris Middleton is now considered a core player while Brandon Knight was the last man out of the Eastern Conference 2014 All-Star Team.
Meanwhile, Brandon Jennings is still shooting sub-.400% and missed most of the 2014-15 season with a torn Achilles tendon.
Next: Best Moves #1: The Greek Freak