The San Antonio Spurs selected Tennessee guard Kennedy Chandler with the No. 38 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and are trading him to the Memphis Grizzlies, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
The Grizzlies are sending the Spurs a future second-round pick and cash, a source told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Chandler, a five-star recruit in the Class of 2021, is an exciting prospect capable of blowing past defenders with ease and intercepting passing lanes on the defensive end. His max vertical leap of 41.5 inches was the highest at this year's draft combine.
The Memphis native's comfort with the college game noticeably improved toward the end of his freshman year. In seven March contests, Chandler averaged 15.2 points on impressive 52.6% shooting. He also drained 17-of-30 from 3-point range (56.7%) while dishing 34 assists to 15 turnovers. Over the season, Chandler averaged 13.9 points, 4.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals, shooting 46.4% overall and 38.3% from deep.
Chandler was named to the 2021-22 All-SEC second team and All-Freshman team. He led the Vols to an SEC tourney win over Kentucky to claim SEC Tournament MVP honors.
Bio
Position: Guard
Team: Tennessee
College experience: Freshman
Height: 6-feet
Weight: 171 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-6
Max vertical: 41.5 inches
Strengths
- One of the quickest guards in his draft class
- An impressive first step should help him blow by defenders
- Consistently improving as an outside shooter
- Solid at disrupting passing lanes to create turnovers (2.2 steals per game)
- Good court vision and passing ability (4.7 assists per game)
Weaknesses
- Very small frame for the pro level
- Poor free-throw shooter (60.6% on 2.9 free-throw attempts per game)
- Might take time to acclimate to the NBA and size of opponents guarding him
