The NBA trade market is beginning to heat up as rumors are galore around the league as the December 15th date approaches for the players that signed free agent contracts this summer. The Memphis Grizzlies have been in a lot of rumors themselves as they have one of the deepest rosters in the league with tradeable contracts that could help the team consolidate by adding a higher caliber of player(s).
While the Grizzlies' roster is arguably championship-ready as currently constructed when fully healthy, there is one player whose role has diminished significantly this season after being a highly regarded rotational piece the last season and a half. The Grizzlies have a decision to make with this upcoming free-agent wing whose future with the team looks murkier by the day.
Luke Kennard's shooting is needed by contenders
The Memphis Grizzlies traded for Luke Kennard at the 2023 NBA trade deadline, hoping to add more shooting to a team that desperately needed it for their playoff run that season. Kennard's role with the Los Angeles Clippers had diminished as their team preferred playing their plethora of 3 and D-wing talents over him.
A deja vu is in the cards for Luke Kennard this season as his previous situation has now become the same case with his playing time with the Memphis Grizzlies. Kennard, a career 43.8% three-point shooter, has become expendable for a team that houses a plethora of young 3 and D-wing talents with Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson II, Vince Williams Jr., and Jake LaRavia.
Also, the Grizzlies have other players who can play multiple positions and slide into wing roles when needed in Santi Aldama, Marcus Smart, and Desmond Bane. Kennard's skillset has gotten slightly devalued as the Grizzlies have a better collection of talent and shooters than they had when they initially traded for him.
Luke Kennard is averaging a career-low in minutes played (19.7), points (6.7), and field goal percentage (43.1%) this season. Injuries have limited him to only playing 14 of the team's 25 games so far, and the time he has been out gave opportunities to Jaylen Wells and Jake LaRavia, who have both thrived this season and played all 25 games.
All of the Grizzlies' wing options outside of Kennard provide higher defensive upside than Kennard and the Grizzlies are collectively shooting 35.4% from three this season, ranking them at 17th in the NBA. The team's need for a sharpshooter isn't as big of a need when they rank near the top of the league in nearly every other offensive category while ranking in the middle of the pack in three-point shooting.
Kennard's one-year contract at $11M was always going to make him a hot commodity to potentially be traded this season, and his diminishing minutes show three-point that the Grizzlies might consider making that move. Luke Kennard's three point shooting is an elite skillset that will keep him a job in the league, however his time with the Grizzlies is just likely to come to an end fairly soon.