Report: Suns, Pistons at an ‘impasse’ on Luke Kennard deal
Feb 5, 2020, 5:58 PM | Updated: 8:13 pm
Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball against Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks during a game between Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons at Arena Ciudad de Mexico on December 12, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons have been discussing a deal involving shooting guard Luke Kennard, but those discussions have reached an “impasse,” per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Wojnarowski notes the disagreement is centered around the protections on a first-round pick the Suns would have included in a hypothetical deal.
With a 20-30 record as of Tuesday morning, Phoenix is tied for 11th in the draft lottery standings. That would give the pick an 8.5% chance of landing in the top-four and a 1.8% shot at becoming the first overall selection in the lottery.
A report originally broke on Monday night that the two sides were having discussions on a deal involving Kennard.
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In his third NBA season, Kennard is averaging 15.8 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 44% from the field and 40% from the three-point stripe. The 23-year-old was putting up a career year in 28 games played before sitting out 23 consecutive games due to knee tendinitis.
Kennard would have helped fill the Suns’ big holes on offense of capable ball-handlers, shooting and depth on the bench.
The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday at 1 p.m.
