Re: ~**~**~**~ 2013 NBA Offseason and Draft Thread~**~**~
Hammond: Bucks determined to retain Jennings -
By Charles F. Gardner
12:31 p.m.
Bucks general manager John Hammond said the team will be aggressive in trying to sign point guard Brandon Jennings to a long-term contract when the league's free agency period opens Monday.
The Bucks already have made a $4.3 million qualifying offer to Jennings to retain the right to match any other offers for the restricted free agent.
Jennings has been the Bucks starting point guard since he was selected 10th overall in the 2009 draft. He played in all but two games last season and averaged 17.5 points and a career-best 6.5 assists. He had a streak of 182 consecutive games played before sitting out two games late in the regular season.
"It's our intention for Brandon Jennings to remain a Milwaukee Buck," Hammond said Friday. "We're hoping to negotiate with him fairly through the July process.
"At the conclusion of our negotiations if we have not reached a deal and they choose to go out and seek an opportunity in the open market, our intention then would still be to match."
The Bucks introduced the two players they acquired in Thursday's draft, Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and South Dakota State guard Nate Wolters, in a news conference Friday morning.
Hammond said Jennings' importance to the Bucks over the last four years was evident.
"I don't think we should ever negate what Brandon has done for us over the last four years," Hammond said. "In his two years in the NBA he's been on two playoff teams. He's made tremendous efforts for us.
"He's been a warrior. It would be very unfair to us to underrate his prominence within our team."
Jennings has started 289 of 291 games in his four years with the Bucks and has averaged 17.0 points while shooting 35.4% from three-point range.
"He's been tremendous and he's been very positive," Hammond said of his conversations with Jennings.
Hammond also said he was excited about the two players introduced Friday. The Bucks surprised many observers by taking the 18-year-old Antetokounmpo, the youngest player in the draft, with the 15th overall pick.
"It's a pretty simple description, the guys who can pass and catch," Hammond said. "You can't do one well without the other.
"If you're a good passer, you usually have good hands and you can catch the ball. I think we added two guys who know how to play and have a great feel for the game. And one with Nate, we think is a player who can get on the floor and play for us immediately.
"And I don't want to say that Giannis cannot do that. Who knows?"
Wolters was acquired in a complicated trade scenario on Thursday night. He was picked 38th overall by Washington, but Philadelphia acquired the pick and shipped Wolters' rights to the Bucks in return for 43rd pick Ricky Ledo and a future second-round pick.
Ledo eventually wound up in Dallas through another deal.
The Bucks sent a 2014 second-round pick to the 76ers, the pick acquired last year in the Samuel Dalembert trade with Houston. Milwaukee still has its own second-round pick in next year's draft.
