NBA Free Agency: Could Luke Kennard fit into the Hornets' rotation next season?

The Grizzlies wing is a free agent at the end of the season.

Jan 22, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (10) reacts after a three-point basket during the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

As the Charlotte Hornets offseason is in its infancy, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson is tasked with building the roster for the next season.

The upcoming free agency class is not exactly strong, but there are plenty of quality role players that the Hornets can add to boost the roster.

One that comes to mind? Memphis Grizzlies wing Luke Kennard.

Kennard, 28, is in his eighth season out of Duke University. He's played with three teams: the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, and now Memphis Grizzlies.

Kennard's strength is his shooting. The wing has shot 43.8% on his career, and has never shot below 39% in a single season. He saw a decline in scoring in 2024, but what could he bring to the Hornets next season?

2024-25 Luke Kennard

Shooting

Kennard shot 43.3% from three on the year, which is in the 96th percentile amongst players. He shot 63.1% in true shooting, which is the 89th percentile.

Kennard moves extremely well off ball. His shooting ability is what’s kept him in the league to this point, and he can create shots for himself from deep. His shot diet is extremely three heavy, and routinely gets involved in back screens from JJJ, Edey, and others to find… pic.twitter.com/pxFYTGTzkc

— Owen O’Connor (@OwenOConnorNBA) April 22, 2025

Kennard always finds a way to get himself open. He's always moving, and almost never sits in the same spot for an entire possession. He creates shots for himself when the ball is in his hand, and when it's not, he gets back-screens set for him to be able to get an open shot.

Kennard's off-ball movement on offense, as well as his shooting ability, would be another part of the puzzle that Charles Lee has been putting together. The team has plenty of shooters, but with LaMelo Ball, it's never enough. When Mark Williams is on the court, the team needs the other four players to all be capable shooters.

Okogie, DaQuan, Green, and Grant all can shoot. That being said, they are not consistent knockdown shooters like Kennard is. His shooting prowess would give another threat to the Hornets' offense, one that c

Playmaking

Kennard averaged 3.8 assists this year, the second highest mark of his career.

His playmaking intrigues me. Kennard averaged 3.8 assists this year, the second highest mark of his career. The ball was in his hands a lot this season, and when he did not have a shot he was routinely looking for the open man. Big fan of his P&R game, and interested to see what… pic.twitter.com/LrqRsLD2Vk

— Owen O’Connor (@OwenOConnorNBA) April 22, 2025

Luke is not a five, six assist level playmaker, but that does not mean he is not a good passer. Kennard has extremely good IQ on the offensive side of the ball, and consistently makes the right reads. Even when he is open from three, if there is a player with a better open shot to the left of him, he'll make the read.

Kennard can play with the ball in his hands. His pick-and-roll game with Zach Edey, Jay Huff, and Jaren Jackson Jr was impressive, and he made the right play almost every single time.

Kennard being able to play with the ball in his hands would help the Hornets' offense tremendously. Outside of Brandon Miller, none of the other wings are able to play as a primary ball-handler. Kennard could add that to this offseason by allowing Miller and Ball to play off-ball, which could take pressure off of them having the ball in their hands nearly every possession.

Defense

Luke averaged 0.8 steals on the year, a career high in that mark.

Defense. Kennard struggles to keep guys in front of him which has resulted in being out of Tuomas Iisalo’s playoff rotation. That being said, he’s extremely smart with his hands, which resulted in a career high in steals this season. Had multiple games with 3+ steals. pic.twitter.com/3gEmstjfK5

— Owen O’Connor (@OwenOConnorNBA) April 22, 2025

Kennard's defense is poor, which has resulted in the former Blue Devil being out of the Grizzlies' playoff rotation. He struggles with keeping players in front of him, and when a pick is set on him, it's almost a guarantee that the opposing team will get an open shot.

There is one positive takeaway from Kennard on defense: his hands.

He’s extremely smart with his hands, which resulted in a career high in steals this season, and had multiple games with 3+ steals. He is consistently in the passing lanes, poking the ball free and causing mayhem. Though he may never be a strong or capable defender, putting him around stronger defensive wings such as Josh Okogie, Grant Williams, and Brandon Miller may help hide his defensive liabilities.

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