The Memphis Grizzlies’ 2023-24 season primarily went straight down the drain the second the crew introduced that Ja Morant was carried out for the yr. Now that the Grizzlies are doubtless already wanting ahead to subsequent season, maybe they may make sharpshooting guard Luke Kennard accessible for commerce forward of the February deadline.

After struggling a subluxation of his proper shoulder throughout a coaching session on Saturday, Morant underwent surgical procedure to restore a torn labrum. Morant is anticipated to make a full restoration and be prepared at the beginning of the 2024-25 season.

The Grizzlies received simply six video games throughout Morant’s league-mandated 25-game suspension to start the marketing campaign. He made his season debut on December 19 towards the New Orleans Pelicans and immediately made an influence by scoring 34 factors and making the game-winning floater to emphatically announce his return to the NBA.

The All-Star guard appeared in 9 outings and helped the Grizzlies win six video games with him on the ground. Memphis regarded poised to make a second-half push with Morant main the best way. Sadly, he will not be capable to do this along with his season ending abruptly.

With that, Memphis will now shift its focus to making ready for subsequent season. Maybe the Grizzlies may retool and begin making modifications forward of the commerce deadline. One participant who may garner curiosity from a handful of contenders is Luke Kennard.

Kennard is a terrific shooter who has made 43.6 p.c of his three-pointers for his profession. He will definitely be a terrific exterior capturing choice for any playoff hopeful. Listed here are some potential locations for Luke Kennard ought to the Grizzlies place him on the commerce block.

Finest commerce locations for Grizzlies’ Luke Kennard

Orlando Magic

If there’s one younger playoff hopeful who wants a sniper like Luke Kennard, it is the Orlando Magic. The Magic have ascended as one of many shocking postseason contenders within the Jap Convention. They presently discover themselves within the logjam that separates the 4th to eighth seeds by only one sport.

Orlando has hung its hat on its top-notch protection thus far this season. The Magic have the 4th-best defensive ranking within the league. They’re additionally No. 3 in steals and No. 4 in defensive rebound share.

Nonetheless, the Magic’s struggles have come on the offensive facet of the ground, notably with their three-point capturing. Orlando has the 4th worst three-point share within the NBA and the crew simply makes 10.9 triples an evening, which is twenty eighth within the NBA. Additionally they rank within the backside 10 in offensive ranking and twentieth in factors per sport.

That is the place Luke Kennard is available in. Kennard’s profession 43.6 p.c capturing from lengthy vary ought to immediately assist save the Magic’s three-point capturing woes. He has led the league in three-point capturing share for 2 seasons in a row now. He shot 44.9 p.c in 2021-22 and additional ramped it up the next season with an absurd 49.4 p.c in 2022-23.

The Magic may lastly pull the plug on Jonathan Isaac and ship him to the Grizzlies together with a second-rounder or two to amass Kennard. Isaac ideally may beef up Orlando’s protection. However since he does not see a lot enjoying time within the first place, they may very well be higher off filling in his roster spot with somebody who may help them handle their struggles from past the arc.

Cleveland Cavaliers

One other poor-shooting playoff contender that might commerce for Luke Kennard is the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers have been attempting to deal with their three-point capturing weaknesses from the summer season. However sadly, their offseason additions have not actually translated.

Aside from the Cavs’ unlucky luck with accidents to Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, a part of the rationale for Cleveland’s regression has been its lackluster three-point capturing. The Cavaliers are in the course of the pack when it comes to makes and makes an attempt. Nonetheless, they rank simply twenty fifth in three-point capturing share for the season.

Sam Merrill has been by far Cleveland’s finest exterior sniper this yr. Nonetheless, the 43 p.c three-point shooter does not actually get a lot enjoying time (13.6 minutes per sport) to make a considerable influence on the Cavs offense. Their massive offseason addition Max Strus additionally is not capturing at a fascinating clip from three. On the season, Strus is making simply 34.7 p.c from lengthy distance.

Kennard’s addition ought to give the Cavaliers an elite catch-and-shoot sniper who may thrive enjoying in a Donovan Mitchell-run offense.

Philadelphia 76ers

Aside from their rival Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers are the one different crew within the league that boasts a top-five offense and protection. The Sixers may enhance their No. 5 offense even additional if they’re able to elevate their three-point share to inside the higher half of the league. A sniper like Luke Kennard may assist them with that.

Philadelphia presently ranks seventeenth within the NBA in three-point capturing share at 36.6 p.c. A lot of the Sixers offense thrives with Joel Embiid dominating contained in the paint. Including a 43.6 p.c shooter like Kennard alongside Embiid may result in considered one of two issues. It may open extra space for the reigning MVP to function down low or it may release the league’s finest exterior shooter percentage-wise from the final two seasons ought to opposing defenses choose to double-team Embiid.

The Sixers may commerce Markieff Morris Sr. and maybe a second spherical choose or two to land Kennard. Morris would additionally make sense with the Grizzlies as a again up 4 and his presence as an enforcer may assist usher again the Grit-and-Grind period in Memphis.