The Memphis Grizzlies and free agent guard Luke Kennard agreed to a one-year, $11 million contract, in response to a number of reviews. Re-signing Kennard for $11 million will put the Grizzlies about $1 million into the luxurious tax.
That may be labored round with a smaller transfer. NBA groups will not be required to be underneath the tax by the beginning of the season. The final actual date to dip underneath the tax is the commerce deadline, in response to Spotrac’s Keith Smith.
The Grizzlies declined Kennard’s $14.8 million workforce choice earlier than the June 29 deadline, making him a free agent. His earlier deal was the four-year, $64 million extension he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in December 2020.
ESPN Sources: Free agent G Luke Kennard has agreed on a brand new one-year, $11 million contract to stick with the Memphis Grizzlies. Kennard’s a profession 44 % 3-point shooter and a key ground spacer for the Western contender. pic.twitter.com/zxXVUPwYbB
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 31, 2024
Kennard, 28, averaged 11 factors, 2.9 rebounds, and three.5 assists whereas taking pictures 45% from 3-point vary for the Grizzlies final season. He completed second in 3-point proportion behind Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (46.1%).
The Grizzlies now have 15 gamers underneath customary contracts. Memphis not too long ago traded Ziaire Williams in a deal and bought Mamadi Diakite. NBA rosters have to be downsized to fifteen gamers on customary contracts by the beginning of the common season.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard has the third greatest profession 3-point taking pictures proportion in NBA historical past
Moreover, Kennard has shot 43.9% on 3-pointers for his profession, trailing solely Steve Kerr (45.4%) and Hubert Davis (44.09%) on the NBA’s all-time listing, per the Basketball-Reference database.
Memphis has traditionally underperformed from past the arc. The Grizzlies haven’t completed within the prime 10 for 3-point taking pictures proportion for the reason that 2006-07 season.
Kennard joined Memphis in a commerce deadline take care of the Clippers in 2023 and averaged 25.6 minutes in 39 video games final season. The 6-foot-5, 206-pound guard has shot 48% on 3-pointers in 63 profession video games with the Grizzlies.
Luke Kennard tonight:
🎯 Units career-high and franchise report with 10 threes
🎯 Turns into 1st participant ever with 10+ 3PM on 90%+ FG
🎯 Leads Grizzlies to a playoff-clinching W pic.twitter.com/7WEjWEi926— NBA (@NBA) March 25, 2023
On March 24, 2023, Kennard made a career-high 10 3s in opposition to the Houston Rockets. He completed with 30 factors on 10 mid-range baskets and 10-of-11 (90.9%) taking pictures from downtown.
In Memphis’ 106-102 win over the Brooklyn Nets on March 4, 2024, he recorded a season-high 25 factors on 8-of-11 (72.7%) taking pictures from the sphere and 6-of-9 (66.7%) from deep.
Kennard was the twelfth general choose of the Detroit Pistons within the 2017 NBA draft out of Duke.
