Nets Rumors: Grizzlies' John Konchar Linked amid Heat, Magic Trade Interest
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRT
Featured Columnist IVDecember 26, 2024
The Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat are all "interested" in John Konchar, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein, with the Memphis Grizzlies' veteran shooting guard "emerging as a name that must be monitored as the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaches."
Per that report, "Konchar is in Year 1 of a three-year, $18.5 million contract with Memphis and is perceived as available. The Grizzlies, on top of the draft capital Brooklyn is known to be seeking for Dorian Finney-Smith, could get to his salary range by packaging Konchar with Luke Kennard's $9.25 million expiring salary."
Given that Kennard has Bird rights, however—based on signing three straight one-year contracts without switching teams in free agency—he cannot be traded without his consent. That could gum up the works in the trade possibility noted by Stein.
As for Konchar, the 28-year-old has appeared in just 15 games this season, averaging 2.5 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 39.1 percent from three in 12.1 minutes per game. He did miss four games in late October and early November with right leg contusion.
In general, however, players like Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Wells, Jake LaRavia and Luke Kennard have seen the majority of the minutes on the wing.
The Grizzlies have been one of the better teams in the NBA this season, currently No. 3 in the Western Conference with a 20-10 record. Upgrading around the core of Ja Morant, Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. make sense.
The Nets, meanwhile, are 11-18 on the season, don't have any superstars on the roster and are facing a full rebuild. They are essentially a collection of role players and moveable contracts, which they would be best served to ship out for draft assets.
The Nets will have cap space in the summer, which could be used to lure a superstar to Brooklyn, but could also be used to take on bad contracts in exchange for draft capital in case the Nets decide to rebuild solely through the draft. Expect them to get started in that vein before February's trade deadline.
