The Memphis Grizzlies roster is a puzzle — one that has most of its pieces filled, but there are a couple of sections missing.
NBA free agent Luke Kennard is viewed by many as one of those missing pieces, but with each passing day, the lack of an update on his free agency status becomes more puzzling.
The Grizzlies declined Kennard’s $14.8 million team option before the June 30 deadline, but reports indicated the two sides would keep the line of communication open.
Free agency has been open for more than two week. Kennard, his agency and Grizzlies front office members are all in Las Vegas during summer league play. That tends to be a spot where contracts get signed. Could that happen in this case?
Here’s the latest on what we know about Kennard’s status.
Confidence in Kennard-Grizzlies reunion?
A Kennard return to Memphis still feels inevitable. He is not the only premier 3-point shooting guard threat who is experiencing a slower free agency market. Former Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. finally got picked up Tuesday, agreeing to a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. The market is moving slower for guards who don’t offer much multi-position versatility even though they’re elite shooters.
NBA teams value versatility more than ever, and for a team like Memphis, that’s the key to playing big minutes. As much of a weapon as Kennard’s shooting accuracy has become, there still isn’t much room for him to be in closing lineups for the Grizzlies. He plays the same position as Desmond Bane, and they are likely to have Vince Williams Jr. or Marcus Smart on the floor in closing situations to guard the best perimeter options.
Twist to Grizzlies’ roster
The Grizzlies’ roster isn’t a complicated one to solve at this point. Even though they are interested in bringing Kennard back, multiple league sources who requested anonymity have told The Commercial Appeal that Memphis wants to keep its 15th roster spot open for flexibility.
That thought aligns with the idea the team could be discussing ways to trade forward Ziaire Williams, as previously reported by The Athletic. That flexibility also helps the Grizzlies stay below the luxury tax and first apron in the case another minor move for roster depth is made.
Signing Kennard would give the Grizzlies 15 players on their standard roster. If that’s the next move Memphis makes, don’t expect it to be the final one.
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Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
