NBA insider tabs Grizzlies guard as 'most likely' to be traded

While the Memphis Grizzlies may certainly still be competing virtually every single night, with their bevy of injuries, key-player absences, and their sub-.500 record of 18-29 it should go without saying that any deep playoff run aspirations they may have should be shelved till next season.

With this in mind, as the February 8 trade deadline rapidly approaches many believe the team should now consider trading off some of their non-core members for more future-oriented assets and, should this wind up being the route GM Zach Kleiman and company embark on, ESPN's NBA insider Briand Windhorst believes the "most likely" player to be dealt is veteran, Luke Kennard.

Luke Kennard tabbed as 'most likely' to be traded from Grizzlies

"The Grizzlies have seen their roster ravaged by injuries, and that includes Kennard. He is a strong shooter who has a team option for $14 million next season, but has been bothered by knee trouble. It's unlikely the Grizzlies will do anything significant."

- Brian Windhorst

One of the league's best long-range shooters, Kennard finds himself amid his first full season with the Grizzlies where he has posted solid averages 10.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists while shooting 43.2 percent from distance.

Unfortunately, as Windhorst stated in his piece, the 27-year-old has dealt with a fair share of health-related issues, particularly when it comes to his knee. With that on top of the team's struggles through this first half of action, the insider seems to believe that of all of Memphis' players Kennard appears to be the odd-man-out when it comes to the trade market.

Fortunately for them, a player of his skill set is highly valuable among title-contending teams as he provides rotational switch-ability (can slot into the two or three spot within a lineup) and can shoot the lights out of the ball both in spot-up and catch-and-shoot sets.

With just a handful of days remaining between now and the trade cut-off, fans should expect to hear an uptick in trade rumblings involving the seventh-year sniper, and there have already been a few teams linked as being possible suitors for his services.