The Memphis Grizzlies have been busy. They went out and drafted Cameron Boozer, a frontcourt talent with real feel for the game and long-term star potential. They traded for Isaiah Stewart, a guy who plays angry and rebounds like it matters. Those two moves make Memphis bigger, tougher, and deeper. They also make one thing painfully obvious: this team still needs a shooter.
That’s where Luke Kennard comes in. And honestly, he should be the Grizzlies’ top free agent target right now.
Memphis still runs through Ja Morant. When he’s at his best, he’s a human battering ram at the rim, drawing help defenders and kicking out for open looks. But those looks only matter if somebody can actually knock them down. Too often last season, the Grizzlies had lineups where defenses just packed the paint and dared role players to beat them. It worked. The offense bogged down, Morant hit traffic, and the whole thing stalled.
Kennard fixes that instantly. He’s one of the purest shooters in the league, and the gravity he creates is real. Defenses stay attached to him off the ball. They chase him around screens. They think twice before sending extra bodies into the lane. That kind of spacing is exactly what Morant, Boozer, and Stewart need to operate effectively.
And here’s the thing: Memphis doesn’t need another ball-dominant player right now. Boozer and Stewart are coming in. Morant and Desmond Bane already handle the bulk of the playmaking. What the Grizzlies need are connective pieces. Guys who move without the ball, make quick decisions, and don’t mess up the flow. Kennard already knows the system and the locker room. He’s not a project. He’s plug and play.
There’s also a practical benefit for the younger guys. Boozer is going to need time adjusting to NBA speed and physicality. Stewart’s offense is more functional than creative. Kennard helps both of them by giving the second unit a reliable outlet. He spaces the floor, makes simple passes, and raises the floor of whatever lineup he’s in. He’s the kind of player who makes everyone around him look better without needing the ball in his hands all the time.
Look, Memphis has never had trouble embracing physical basketball. Stewart only reinforces that identity. Boozer adds talent and upside. But if the Grizzlies lean too hard into size and toughness without preserving skill and spacing, they risk building a roster that’s easier to defend in the postseason. That’s where Kennard becomes critical. Playoff basketball is all about half-court execution. Can you create clean looks when the game slows down? Can you punish help defense? Kennard answers yes to all three. He’s a movement shooter, a smart passer, and a low-mistake offensive player who understands timing and spacing.
And he’s realistic. Memphis wouldn’t have to overextend financially or sacrifice long-term flexibility to bring him back. For a team trying to contend while also developing Boozer, that matters.
The Grizzlies have already added youth, toughness, and frontcourt depth. Now they need to complete the picture. Re-signing Kennard may not be the flashiest move of the offseason, but it might be the one that makes everything else work.
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