The Philadelphia 76ers have won five of their last seven, but are still facing an uphill battle after a horrendous start. Joel Embiid is dealing with another injury and the Sixers are five games back from a guaranteed playoff spot. Not much has gone right since signing Paul George, and Daryl Morey must make changes before the trade deadline.
Philly is 27th in offensive rating after 24 games. Much can be placed on their best players missing significant time, but there are several underlying issues. The 76ers play at the third-slowest pace and struggle to make threes. They are 24th in 3-pointers made and 27th in long-range percentage. Boston gets 7.3 more points per game on threes alone. The Sixers will struggle to make up for that math edge in a postseason series.
Philadelphia desperately needs a sharpshooter to round out their roster. Adding someone capable of shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range and burying the open looks that come his way is a must. Things just opened up for the franchise to land an elite shooter.
The door just swung wide open for 76ers to acquire Luke Kennard
Kennard’s 43.8 percent from 3-point range is the third-best mark in NBA history. Teams cannot leave him open, and the 6’5 wing has not missed a beat this season.
The Grizzlies are healthy and loaded with talent. Kennard averages 19.7 minutes per game and has played just 13.8 over his last four appearances. Memphis is starting rookie Jaylen Wells and has Marcus Smart coming off the bench. Finding significant run for Kennard is not easy, and it may be time to move on.
The 28-year-old became trade-eligible on Dec. 15, and teams are acting quickly. Fans have already seen two trades. The Sixers cannot waste time. They should make a strong offer for Kennard to see if they can acquire an elite shooter.
Kennard is comfortable spotting up and waiting for the ball. He would open the door for George, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid. No player is leaving Kennard wide open to stop a drive. The 6’5 wing makes too many triples. It would certainly improve the Sixers' offense, but creates defensive questions. With Embiid and PG, the Sixers should be able to make it work.
The Grizzlies are near the top of the Western Conference. They may decide to keep Luke Kennard, especially if he is willing to play a smaller role. The 6’5 wing may ask out as he looks for more run. If so, the Philadelphia 76ers should make a push to acquire him. His shooting alone solves the team’s biggest need and makes them a threat. It is on Morey to find the right players before Feb. 6, and this could be a massive win.