The Memphis Grizzlies and the Brooklyn Nets are reportedly cooking a potential huge transaction around one of the league’s well-known trade candidates this season.
Per renowned NBA insider Marc Stein, both teams are engaged in “active discussions” for a deal that will see Brooklyn forward Dorian Finney-Smith being dealt to Memphis.
According to Stein, the deal is set to package Luke Kennard and John Konchar for Memphis in exchange for Brooklyn’s Finney-Smith.
The combined salaries of Konchar ($6.165MM) and Kennard ($9.25MM) would be already enough to work for a trade around Finney-Smith, who is set to earn a total of $14.9MM this season with a $15.4MM player option for 2025-26.
Added by Stein, the Nets are vying to obtain a first-round draft pick from the Grizzlies in any deal that will include Finney-Smith. On the other hand, it is expected that Memphis would receive second-round draft compensation if a trade comes to fruition.
Considering their state as a rebuilding squad, the Nets are leaning much toward acquiring a draft asset in their possible deal with the Grizzlies. Nevertheless, Kennard and Konchar can still be utilized by the Nets as considerable pieces that can be flipped for eventual trades before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
As one of the league’s best shooters, Kennard will certainly earn plenty of interest as his career 43.9 percent efficiency from downtown will be tremendous most especially for contending teams.
There’s a reason why Finney-Smith is highly coveted amongst many teams in the league. As such, his addition couldn’t be more impactful for an already competitive Grizzlies team that sits atop the West as a No. 2 team with a 22-10 record. With his reliable play as a 3-and-D wing, the veteran will bring another pivotal element to this Memphis team that boasts one of the deepest rosters in the NBA.
The 31-year-old undrafted Finney-Smith is averaging 10.4 points and 4.6 boards this season, draining a career-high 43.5 percent from threes across 20 games.
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