"Brandon Jennings has heard all the talk this summer about the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls.

How could he avoid it?

LeBron James bolting Cleveland for Miami was the NBA's biggest story of the off-season. James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are expected to make the Heat a championship contender but also could make the team one of the most hated in the league.

The Celtics added Shaquille O'Neal to help veterans Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, after barely missing out on an NBA title last season.

And the Bulls struck out in the LeBron sweepstakes but signed free-agent power forward Carlos Boozer to go along with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.

And don't forget the Orlando Magic, with a war of words already being waged between Miami executive Pat Riley and Orlando general manager Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy.

All the talk about those Eastern Conference teams means the Milwaukee Bucks still are going largely unnoticed. At least that's the opinion of the Bucks point guard, who elevated his status with a productive rookie season and by starting all 89 games, including seven playoff games.

"We did sneak up on a lot of people," Jennings said of the Bucks' 46-36 record last season. "A lot of people doubted us, and I think they are to this day.

"I still don't think we have respect from other people that we should. But that's fine, though; that's good for us."

The Bucks made some big changes in the off-season, adding front-court depth by signing veteran power forward Drew Gooden, drafting 6-foot-11 Larry Sanders and trading for forwards Corey Maggette and Jon Brockman.

General manager John Hammond was able to re-sign free-agent guard John Salmons and added Keyon Dooling, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Earl Boykins to the backcourt picture.

"As long as we can commit to having five or six guys in double figures in scoring, we're going to be all right," Jennings said.

"The goal I've set, I think we can win 50 games and win the Central Division, and then just get out of the first round of the playoffs. It's going to take steps."