In recent seasons, the Grizzlies have had plenty of bad injury luck and have made some roster-building mistakes. To make matters worse for Grizzlies fans, it isn't ideal to see former players find more success elsewhere in a playoff setting. Luke Kennard's playoff breakout is frustrating for Grizzlies fans, especially given that he is less scared to shoot compared to his time in Memphis.
During Luke Kennard's time as a Grizzly, he was still an elite shooter and possessed some playmaking ability. There was one major problem that factored in the Grizzlies letting him walk: he would hesitate and pass up on many good shots. Luke Kennard's shooting ability is a gift and one that should not have ever been suppressed in the first place since he got to the NBA.
In the Grizzlies' defense, they weren't the only organization that struggled to get Luke Kennard to shoot the ball more. However, it seems that Lakers head coach JJ Redick, who was also a great shooter and played at Duke like Kennard, has been able to instill more offensive confidence in him since the trade.
Luke Kennard has been a driving force in the Lakers' playoff wins
At the time, it certainly made sense for the Grizzlies to let Kennard walk last offseason. The Grizzlies were able to sign Cam Spencer to a standard contract that was a bargain, and Kennard just wasn't giving the team what they needed against winning teams. The Grizzlies are certainly happy with Cam Spencer's sophomore breakout; however, it's surprising to see Kennard's recent rise.
Fast forward a few months later, and the Hawks and Lakers make one of the most impactful trades of the deadline, swapping Luke Kennard and Gabe Vincent. It seems rather obvious at this point that the Lakers are winning the trade. Given the recent injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, Luke Kennard has been forced into a bigger role for now.
So far, he has passed the test with flying colors and has had a major impact on the Lakers going up 2-0 on the Rockets. Kennard is averaging 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while also making 8 of his 11 threes so far. Beyond his shooting ability, having good ball handlers is essential in the playoffs, and Kennard has thrived in that role so far.
Grizzlies would've benefited from this version of Kennard
Everyone knows how talented Kennard is as a shooter, but the hesitation to shoot proved to be frustrating, especially for Memphis fans. Now, going back to the Grizzlies' first-round exit against the Lakers in 2023, the offense did tend to fare better with Kennard on the floor; however, the lack of 3-point volume was astounding.
Granted, Kennard hurt his shoulder in Game 5 and missed the Lakers' Game 6 clinching win. But the main takeaway is that Kennard did not shoot more than four threes in any of the games despite being the Grizzlies' best shooter. Kennard averaged just 7.2 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists for the series and did not make the well-rounded offensive impact he is making for the Lakers now.
Given how common it is for role players to perform way better at home, it will be interesting to see how Luke Kennard does on the road against the Rockets. But for now, it is very easy to see why Grizzlies fans are even more frustrated after such a challenging season.
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