It’s been well-documented that the Philadelphia 76ers need more floor-spacing. They are shooting 34.1% from distance this season, which ranks No. 24 among NBA teams.
That’s why sharpshooters like Phoenix Suns wing Royce O’Neale have been floated as potential trade targets. However, to get a sharpshooter, a trade partner has to be willing to move off their players. In cases like those, O’Neale is probably off limits.
But other sharpshooters like Luke Kennard could be. Sixers Wire floated the Memphis Grizzlies sharpshooter as a potential trade target for the Sixers, and he would make sense.
The Duke alum, who played with Sixers rival Jayson Tatum on the Blue Devils, has proven he can shoot the rock from the very jump. Kennard is a career 44% shooter from distance, and this season, it’s been more of the same. This season, he’s shooting 46.1% from three. Best of all, the Grizzlies might trade him if the right deal comes along.
Why Kennard could actually be available
Kennard was dangled to the Brooklyn Nets when the Grizzlies tried to acquire Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets, as reported by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
Their efforts failed, but those trade discussions demonstrate that they will offer Kennard if the Grizzlies have a targeted upgrade in mind. The Sixers may not necessarily have a straight-up upgrade to offer for Kennard. However, a third team could get involved, making a deal work.
Kennard makes $9.3 million this season, so not only would he not be expensive, but the Sixers wouldn’t have to worry about him getting in the way of their cap space long-term.
The Sixers have other issues they need to fix, but Kennard would fix one of their most glaring issues by himself.
MORE SIXERS NEWS: 76ers predicted to acquire $125 million forward to play as Joel Embiid's running mate
