After the Grizzlies turned down Luke Kennard‘s 2024/25 crew possibility on June 29, the expectation was that he’d signal a brand new contract with the membership. It took over a month, however the two sides ultimately agreed to a one-year, $11MM deal, and Kennard mentioned this week that returning to Memphis was at all times the plan, in accordance with Damichael Cole of The Memphis Industrial Attraction.
“There are quite a lot of completely different conversations that go on all through that course of,” Kennard mentioned. “I advised (Grizzlies basic supervisor Zach Kleiman) I need to be in Memphis. That is the place I need to be. I’m excited with what they’ve constructed right here over the previous couple of years. I simply needed to be a small a part of that.”
Household issues factored into Kennard’s want to stay with the Grizzlies, in accordance with Cole, who notes that the 28-year-old is an Ohio native whose household isn’t too removed from Memphis. Kennard and his spouse additionally had a baby in March, so he wasn’t desperate to uproot them to maneuver throughout the nation.
“The truth that (household) can come see me anytime is such a giant factor,” Kennard mentioned. “Being nearer to dwelling performs a giant issue. With the brand new child and a spouse at dwelling, they love the place we’re at and the town the place we’re. It’s been a good time thus far. We’ve loved Memphis loads. We’re simply glad we’ve at the least one other yr.”
Right here’s extra from across the Western Convention:
- Anthony Edwards‘ Crew USA expertise on the 2023 World Cup ended and not using a medal, however the Timberwolves couldn’t have requested for a greater set of circumstances for his or her younger star this summer season, in accordance with Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, who particulars how Edwards performed an necessary function for a gold-medal U.S. roster on the Olympics and bought the possibility to spend a number of weeks studying from three of the very best NBA gamers of all-time in LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry.
- Rising Spurs star Victor Wembanyama didn’t get to spend as a lot time with Durant in Paris as Edwards did, however the reigning Rookie of the Yr appreciated getting the chance to talk to the Suns ahead following France’s loss to Crew USA within the gold medal recreation. “Clearly, that is my private childhood favourite,” Wembanyama mentioned in an look on M6 (YouTube hyperlink; hat tip to Eurohoops). “He grew to become my favourite participant… I made it clear to him that I needed to study from him and maybe steal one or two of his secret methods.”
- The Path Blazers are parting methods with ROOT Sports activities and shall be transferring their video games to an over-the-air community, in accordance with Sean Highkin of Rose Backyard Report, who says the small print of the crew’s TV broadcast plans for the 2024/25 season shall be introduced quickly. It has change into a little bit of a development for NBA groups to depart native regional sports activities networks in favor of over-the-air channels, writes Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, with the Blazers becoming a member of Phoenix, Utah, and New Orleans as groups who’ve not too long ago made that transfer.
