As they look to return to the NBA Playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies have re-signed free agent 3-point specialist Luke Kennard, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Kennard’s deal will be for one-year and $11 million, allowing the seven-year veteran to hit free agency in 2025.
ESPN Sources: Free agent G Luke Kennard has agreed on a new one-year, $11 million contract to stay with the Memphis Grizzlies. Kennard’s a career 44 percent 3-point shooter and a key floor spacer for the Western contender. pic.twitter.com/zxXVUPwYbB
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 31, 2024
A career 43.9 percent shooter from deep, Kennard has made at least 100 3-pointers in each of the last four seasons.
Grizzlies Make Decision On Luke Kennard
Kennard’s played just 63 games with the Grizzlies after Memphis acquired him last February. In that time, he’s averaged 11.1 points per game while shooting 48.3 percent from 3. However, in a lost 2023-24 season, Kennard couldn’t leave his mark in the way he wanted. Though he played up to his standards offensively, he was limited to 39 games due to a left knee injury.
He’ll presumably be completely healthy heading into 2024-25 though. If so, he’ll be a key rotation piece for the Grizzlies whether he starts or comes off the bench. Memphis has amassed plenty of talent over the past few seasons. Yet, few of them have been premier catch-and-shoot threats.
This is what makes Kennard particularly valuable. The Grizzlies now have two reliably efficient spot-up shooters and one of them, Desmond Bane, has become more of an on-ball scorer over the past couple of seasons. With that being said, this could lead to Kennard starting, playing off of Bane and Ja Morant.
However, at 6-foot-5, Kennard’s a bit undersized as small forward. He’s also not the type of player who can be counted on as an on-ball defender, especially if guarding stars. To his benefit, Memphis doesn’t actually have any small forwards ideally suited to play alongside Morant and Duo on the perimeter. Nonetheless, after the way Vince Williams Jr. played last season, he could be their best 3-and-D wing.
Not to be forgotten is Marcus Smart. Though a combo guard by trade, the Grizzlies opted to start him at the three because of his two-way playmaking. A former Defensive Player of the Year, he was seen as a replacement for the defensive-minded Dillon Brooks. However, similar to his predecessor, Smart’s streaky 3-ball doesn’t allow him to mesh with the first unit at an optimal level.
