NBA trade deadline winners and losers: Lakers, Suns make their move

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images /
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Jan 28, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; LA Clippers guard Luke Kennard (5) shoots against the Atlanta Hawks in the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; LA Clippers guard Luke Kennard (5) shoots against the Atlanta Hawks in the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner: Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies didn’t make any huge swings at the deadline, falling short in the pursuit of OG Anunoby. But they did manifest a pretty strong plan B, hopping into a three-team deal with the Rockets and Clippers and turning Danny Green into Luke Kennard.

Kennard is an absolute lights-out shooter — 42.7 percent from beyond the arc for his career and 44.7 percent this season. He ranks in the 96th percentile in scoring efficiency on spot-ups, is comfortable shooting off movement and has some juice as a secondary creator and running weakside pick-and-rolls, even if the Clippers rarely gave him opportunities to work in those settings. (He averaged 4.1 assists per game when his usage and minutes peaked in 2019-20 with the Pistons).

Kennard’s defensive shortcomings mean he’ll probably stay behind Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane in the Grizzlies rotation. But he can defend some 3s and there’s a good chance he takes minutes from John Konchar and Zaire Williams, to the Grizzlies’ benefit, as the third wing when the rotations tighten in the playoffs.

The Western Conference got tougher but Kennard is a significant bench upgrade and his shooting is going to be huge in spacing the floor around Ja Morant.