DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons have made another move in their busy offseason, acquiring Brandon Jennings as they desperately try to end their four-year postseason drought.
Detroit landed the point guard from the Milwaukee Bucks for point guard Brandon Knight and two prospects, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The person, who spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the trade hasn't been announced, said Jennings has agreed to a $24 million, three-year contract with the Pistons. The person said Detroit will also give up seldom-used Ukrainian center Viacheslav Kravtsov and forward Khris Middleton in the deal.
Detroit has been active this offseason, signing free agents Josh Smith, Chauncey Billups and Luigi Datome along with bringing back Will Bynum.
The Pistons signed Billups in part to mentor Knight, but have chosen to replace him with Jennings. They're in a win-now mode, and must figure Jennings gives them a better shot to have success this season than Knight, who hasn't shown he can be a reliable point guard.
Milwaukee drafted Jennings 10th overall in 2009 out of Oak Hill Academy and he averaged 17 points, 5.7 assists and 2.4 turnovers over four seasons with the Bucks, who could've matched any offer made to the restricted free agent this offseason. He averaged a career-high 6.5 assists and 17.5 points last season, a year after averaging a career-best 19.1 points a game.
Instead of keeping a player who might not have wanted to stay, the Bucks are adding to their depth with another young point guard and two players. Detroit drafted Knight eighth overall in 2011 out of Kentucky. He averaged 13.1 points, 3.9 assists and 2.7 turnovers.
The 6-foot-11 Kravtsov averaged 3.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in 25 games last season as a rookie. Middleton, a second-round pick last year from Texas A&M, averaged 6.1 points in 27 games.