The Detroit Pistons are considering a trade with the Miami Heat for Norris Cole following the season-ending injury to Brandon Jennings.

There's nothing imminent at this point and talks have been described as "exploratory," sources said.

Jennings tore his Achilles last week.

Cole will be a free agent in the offseason. In 39 games this season, Cole is averaging 6.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 23 starts.

Brandon Jennings will miss the rest of the season and is expected to be out six to nine months with a full tear of his left Achilles.

An MRI confirmed the injury on Sunday.

More practically, it takes seven to 12 months for a full recovery from the injury.

Jennings is coming off the best month of his professional career, leading the Detroit Pistons back to the playoff race after a 5-23 start.

Brandon Jennings suffered an injury to his left leg in the Detroit Pistons' game on Saturday.

Stan Van Gundy said Jennings will be out for the foreseeable future.

The fear is an Achilles injury, as Jennings told some that he felt he was kicked in the back of his lower leg.

"It doesn't look good," Van Gundy said.

The Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls are among four NBA teams that have shown an interest in swingman D.J. Kennedy, a leading candidate for the Most Valuable Player award in the top German league, sources told RealGM.

Kennedy, a two-way player at 6-foot-6, played in two games for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2011-12 season. He has since played overseas in Israel, France, Russia and now Germany.

The Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons have also reached out to Kennedy, a source said. With a deal for the remainder of the German season, Kennedy is a potential option for the summer and next season.

Kennedy started the year playing for Krasny in the Eurocup, averaging 19.2 points and six rebounds. Before Kennedy arrived to Riesen Ludwigsburg this season, the team ranked 11th place in the league. In averaging 21.1 points and 6.5 rebounds in 35 minutes a game, Kennedy has propelled the club into the playoff picture.

Kennedy, 25, went to training camp with Memphis and Dallas in 2012 and 2013. He played for Minnesota in the NBA Summer League last year.

Kennedy played his college basketball at St. John's, going unselected in the 2011 NBA draft.

The average NBA franchise valuation is now a record $1.1 billion.

There are now 11 NBA teams worth at least $1 billion, compared to three a year ago.

The Los Angeles Lakers lead the way at $2.6 billion, up 93% over last year. 

The value of the New York Knicks shot up 79% to $2.5 billion, ranking the team second overall.

Rounding out the top five are the Chicago Bulls ($2 billion), Boston Celtics ($1.7 billion) and Los Angeles Clippers ($1.6 billion).

6. Brooklyn Nets: $1.5 billion
7. Golden State Warriors: $1.3 billion
8. Houston Rockets: $1.25 billion
9. Miami Heat: $1.175 billion
10. Dallas Mavericks: $1.15 billion
11. San Antonio Spurs: $1 billion
12. Portland Trail Blazers: $940 million
13. Oklahoma City Thunder: $930 million
14. Toronto Raptors: $920 million
15. Cleveland Cavaliers: $915 million
16. Phoenix Suns: $910 million
17. Washington Wizards: $900 million
18. Orlando Magic: $875 million
19. Denver Nuggets: $855 million
20. Utah Jazz: $850 million
21. Indiana Pacers: $830 million
22. Atlanta Hawks: $825 million
23. Detroit Pistons: $810 million
24. Sacramento Kings: $800 million
25. Memphis Grizzlies: $750 million
26. Charlotte Hornets: $725 million
27. Philadelphia 76ers: $700 million
28. New Orleans Pelicans: $650 million
29. Minnesota Timberwolves: $625 million
30. Milwaukee Bucks: $600 million

Increasing teams have emerged for the possible call up of veteran forward Damion James in the NBA D-League, including the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers, a league source told RealGM on Sunday.

James and his representatives have met with or spoken to each of the teams – which included a meeting with the Clippers on Thursday.

James, a six-foot-seven forward, has spent the entire season with the Texas Legends in the D-League, averaging 18.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He went to training camp with the Wizards in October and was a final cut.

James has played in 39 NBA games over parts of four seasons with New Jersey/Brooklyn and San Antonio.

Brandon Jennings has been fined $15,000 for an obscene gesture in the game at the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 12, the NBA announced on Wednesday.

The Detroit Pistons defeated the Raptors in the game.

The Detroit Pistons have assigned Spencer Dinwiddie and Gigi Datome to the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA D-League.

Dinwiddie has spent part of the season in the D-League.

Stan Van Gundy had a mini state-of-the-roster address during the Detroit Pistons' trip to New York.

The Pistons are 4-0 since releasing Josh Smith.

"I'm far from a wild-eyed optimist," Van Gundy said Friday. "But I honestly think the future is pretty good, and where we're going, in terms of what we have -- cap space and everything else, and the progress some of our guys are making.

"In the present, it's difficult. But I think in the future, we have a chance to build this up over the next couple of years and become a good basketball team."