Ja Morant suspended by the NBA for the first 25 games of the next campaign, Memphis will have to temporarily replace him in the five major, alongside Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane brought to start the matches in the “backcourt”, and Jaren Jackson Jr. and Steven Adams who will occupy the “frontcourt”.
It is therefore the winger position which will be vacant for 25 games, and if youngsters David Roddy, Jake LaRavia and Ziaire Williams are considered by Taylor Jenkins, it is undoubtedly the most experienced Luke Kennard who should be the logical choice, with a complementary profile to the other holders thanks to the quality of his outside shooting.
” If I have [Morant] is not in the field, so Marcus [Smart] can ride the ball, just like Desmond [Bane]. And it also allows us to place Luke Kennard more regularly on the pitch », thus judged Zach Kleiman, the GM and president of the Grizzlies, earlier this summer. ” I think everyone noticed how dynamic our attack was when we lined up Desmond and Luke together on the wings. »
A rather “small ball” option
To maintain a certain dynamism in attack, while waiting for the return to the lead of Ja Morant, the former Duke indeed seems to correspond to the perfect profile. With Desmond Bane, he thus forms a duo of shooters who revolve around the “playmaking” of Marcus Smart, but also Jaren Jackson Jr.
” Not to mention we’re adding Marcus to this group now. “Adds the sports boss of the Tennessee franchise. ” We have several ball handlers, several shooters, and Jaren, who brings a precious gravity. We’re pretty confident about the variety of our options. »
The only legitimate concern about the tenure on the wing of Luke Kennard: his defensive limitations and his height (1m96). Even if, here again, the versatility of the options of the Grizzlies is to be underlined: Marcus Smart can amply assume the defensive responsibilities against the opposing wingers, and thus “hide” Luke Kennard.
| Luke Kennard | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | TED | 73 | 20 | 44.3 | 41.5 | 85.5 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 7.6 |
| 2018-19 | TED | 63 | 23 | 43.8 | 39.4 | 83.6 | 0.2 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 9.7 |
| 2019-20 | TED | 28 | 33 | 44.2 | 39.9 | 89.3 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 15.8 |
| 2020-21 | LAKE | 63 | 20 | 47.6 | 44.6 | 83.9 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 8.3 |
| 2021-22 | LAKE | 70 | 27 | 44.9 | 44.9 | 89.6 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 11.9 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 59 | 22 | 49.2 | 49.4 | 94.9 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 9.3 |
| 2022-23 * | LAKE | 35 | 21 | 46.4 | 44.7 | 95.0 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 7.8 |
| 2022-23 * | SAME | 24 | 25 | 52.6 | 54.0 | 94.7 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 11.3 |
| Total | 356 | 23 | 45.5 | 43.7 | 87.7 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 9.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
