Grizzlies' recent move should see elite sharpshooter return on fresh contract

Luke Kennard is an unrestricted free agent . The 28-year-old shooting guard spent last season with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he played in 39 games, averaging 11 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He shot 44.8% from the field and 45% from three-point range.

Last season was a disaster for the Grizzlies. Injuries derailed their season before they had a chance to build any momentum. With the roster expected to be back at full health next season, Memphis could emerge as a serious contender in the Western Conference. However, it's faced some cap space issues as it looks to avoid the luxury tax. As such, Kennard has yet to re-sign from the franchise despite the reported interest from both sides.

On Friday, the Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets agreed to a trade that sent Ziaire Williams to Brooklyn, with Mamadi Diakite coming to Memphis. That deal saved the Grizzlies just under $4M in cap space.

According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, the Grizzlies now have enough wiggle room under the luxury tax line to re-sign Kennard.

"For Memphis, this deal was about clearing some additional room under the luxury tax," Smith wrote. "...But Memphis did want to re-sign Luke Kennard. Something had to give...Memphis is about $10 million clear of the luxury tax. That’s enough room to re-sign Kennard to a fair-value contract...Kennard will play a bigger and more important role in any success the Grizzlies have this season and beyond."

Kennard's floor spacing will be essential for a Grizzlies team that has multiple interior scorers. His ability to operate as a secondary creator can also ease the pressure off the team's primary ball handlers . If Memphis can reach an agreement to bring Kennard back, he will likely be a core part of the team's primary rotation.

Memphis has approached this offseason with patience and a clear plan. Assuming it re-signs Kennard, it will have its full roster for the upcoming season while avoiding the luxury tax. That little wrinkle could save the franchise millions of dollars in the future and help it keep the core together for the foreseeable future.

It's a good time to be a Grizzlies fan. The future looks bright.