6:34pm: Multiple league sources have told Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link) that the Clippers aren’t looking to trade Kennard.
This doesn’t necessarily mean Kennard is off-limits in trade conversations — it’s possible the Clippers are willing to discuss him but objected to the idea that he’s being “shopped.” It’s also possible he’ll simply remain in Los Angeles to start the 2022/23 season.
9:10am: The Clippers are shopping sharpshooter Luke Kennard in trade discussions and may attempt to move him later in the offseason if they don’t find a deal they like ahead of Thursday’s draft, reports Sean Deveney of Heavy.com.
Acquired and extended by the Clippers during the 2020 offseason, Kennard has been a regular part of the team’s rotation over the last two years and made a league-best 44.9% of his three-point attempts in 2021/22. He averaged 11.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 2.1 APG in 70 games (27.4 MPG) this past season, while knocking down 2.7 threes per contest.
As valuable as Kennard is as a floor spacer, the Clippers will have a crowded rotation next season. Swingman Norman Powell, acquired at this year’s trade deadline, could cut into Kennard’s playing time, and if a fully healthy Kawhi Leonard is back in the lineup in 2022/23, that could result in fewer minutes for everyone else.
The Clippers also project to be far above the NBA’s projected tax line for next season, perhaps creating some incentive to move off a sizable multiyear contract like Kennard’s. The veteran wing, who will turn 26 on Friday, will earn approximately $30MM over the next two years, with a $15.4MM team option for 2024/25.
The Cavaliers and Clippers talked about Kennard last season before Cleveland landed Caris LeVert, according to Deveney, who suggests the Cavs could still be in the market for an outside shooter. The Bulls and Kings are among the other potential suitors for Kennard, sources tell Deveney.
(2013) CJ/Oladipo/THJ/Giannis/Rudy with Schröder, KCP, Bullock, Otto & SAdams off bench vs (2018) Trae/Luka/Mikal/JJJ/Ayton with Shai, Sexton, Miles, MPJ, RWilliams off bench… who wins a 7gm series bw these 2 teams if all 20 guys are 26yrs old & who would be MVP of the series?…
The first 2 paragraphs of the article
It is wordy and empty speech, IMO.
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6:34pm: Multiple league sources have told Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link) that the Clippers aren’t looking to trade Kennard.
This doesn’t necessarily mean Kennard is off-limits in trade conversations — it’s possible the Clippers are willing to discuss him but objected to the idea that he’s being “shopped.”
lol
2 of em for u.. Luke, Mook Morris & Jason Preston to Philly for Tobias & Shake Milton (reunion for Morris & Harris) or… Luke & Mook Morris to Minnesota for D’Angelo Russell… both trades would make both teams better
If philly can’t pull a rabbit out of their hat and trade tobi in a deal to get a “star”, then this deal isn’t too bad. They need a lights out shooter to replace the curry/Reddick role. And they also need some toughness, which Morris has in spades. Would be interesting how the lineups work if they add tucker via FA
It would be interesting to see how practices work with guys like the Morris twins (they’d have to go get Kieff), Embiid & Tucker battling in the paint. But yea Luke would be perfect as that floor spacer tho. Tbh his % might even go up playing off guys like Harden/Joel
We are looking for better outside shooting, but Kennard is highly valued and we would have to give up to much.
76ers can offer Niang, green, and a 1st.
Not a terrible Seth replacement.
I cannot for the life of me understand why a team that has Luke Kennard would want to trade him. I am told every day that shooting is at a premium in the NBA. He led the league in 3-pt% and has a reasonable contract. What am I missing?
Remember how highly valued Duncan Robinson was this time last yr? Shooting is highly valued but even the best shooters can go cold. I would lean towards keeping Luke as well but it definitely makes sense to see if someone is willing to overpay. Clippers have a bunch of wings & they have shooters all over the court even without Luke & Morris. If they can fill their pg spot with Russell or add an upgrade like Tobias that’s worth considering
He’s superceded by Powell who’s better defensively, and lesser, still solid shooter. Mann who also takes playing away, is a more aggressive scorer. Kennard has underrated playmaking ability. He’ll be a good 2nd unit guy say for Philly, Dallas, Boston, maybe even Portland.
Of course you are right that he would be valuable for Philly, Dallas, Boston. That’s my point. If he’s valuable for some of the best teams in the league, then it’s up to the Clippers to exploit his talents within their team.
Clippers do “exploit his talents”. He was a huge reason they won as much as they did this season. As deep as they are on the wing & with his trade value as high as it will probably ever be & with the “holes” they have at the 1 & 4 it makes sense to get offers for him.
This was likely since the POR trade. Kennard is already an under-utilized player, and that’s unlikely to change as long as Lue is the HC. Add in their payroll situation, and the depth chart needs, moving him makes sense. So much so, that it might not cost much beyond taking his salary and giving the LAC a serviceable C or PG.
When your owner is Steve Ballmer, I didn’t realize that you had a “payroll situation.”
He’s willing to pay tax, but that’s only one part of the equation. Particularly if you’re looking to upgrade (which they still are). There’s still payroll rules that limit spending on new players, and they’re very stringent at the LAC payroll level. If they want to acquire significant new players (at C or PG), then they’ll have to move a 8 figure salary. Why not the one belonging to a very tradable guy that you’re not fully utilizing?
Agreed but Kennard has had chances to take a higher spot in rotation. He gets tentative and would rather get others involved vs take shots or drive. When thinks score first then pass, much different player. I agree with change of scenery
I somewhat disagree. He is often tentative, but I attribute that to the conflict between his skill set and the way the HC uses him, and, pretty clearly, views him (as merely a spot up shooter off the bench, who needs to be kept on a short leash due to his defense, and will get uneven minutes).
Kennard is a great shooter, yes, but also a high IQ player with excellent ball handling and facilitation skills. At DET when he started for them, he was a 4+ APG guy who didn’t turn the ball over much at all. His defense might be an issue, but the numbers suggest it’s not that bad. In short, despite what Lue thinks, he’s not Kyle Korver. He also isn’t a guy who is going to naturally hunt his own shot. Maybe that’s what the HC wants when he’s in the game. But that just speaks to the fact that he’d likely be better off somewhere else.
Korkmaz, Green and a 1st and 2nd. Do it Philly!
If the Celtics had a guy like this, they would have won a championship. Make it happen, Brad!
Kennard and a first for Randle should get jt done. Then flip Randle and a second for AD. Then trade Ad straight up for Trae young, and package him along with a 2025 first to acquire devin Booker. Then release Booker and sign Kendrick Perkins out of retirement.
I can get behind this if they use him, with maybe Morris, to find an adequate PG.
This is why they should not be going overboard with Batum. Too many bodies. Batum at $10m is not much less, and does not shoot or pass better.
They want to make room for Powell? Great, but is Kawhi not expected?— how about making room for him?— And the youngsters.
Batum and Kennard play different positions. Batum plays the 4 most but also goes to the 5 to allow the Clippers play more small ball in the playoffs. There really is no comparison between the two.
I want to keep Kennard but the Clippers do have holes and have a ton of wing depth. Whoever you can get more for – Kennard or Mann – you should move. Kawhi, PG, Powell, Mann and Kennard are all worthy of 30 minutes a night. Covington can play some 3. Boston can slide in at the bottom of the rotation for minutes as well.
Just so much depth on the wing, it means you have to move someone of value to get someone of value.
Batum has a minus 5 onoff mostly at the 4, good point-out rd42… They should be trading a wing for another. He’s not minimum anymore. RoCo is at +15.
All the Clips need is John Wall to be bought out.