Detroit Pistons provided second-year player Luke Kennard with some good news on Tuesday, especially considering the guard is currently on the shelf for several weeks with a shoulder injury.
#Pistons announce they’ve exercised the team option on Luke Kennard for next season.
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) October 30, 2018
The Pistons had option decisions to make on Kennard and Henry Ellenson before the Oct. 31 deadline. Detroit ultimately chose to pick up Kennard's team option for the 2019-20 season, while Ellenson will become a free agent next summer.
Kennard was drafted 12th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft and has always been known for his elite shooting ability. The former Duke Blue Devil was outstanding in his sophomore year of college, averaging 19.5 points and 5.1 rebounds while maintaining a 43.8 shooting percentage from 3-point range.
Kennard has averaged 7.6 points in 76 career games with Detroit and possesses a stellar 41.6 percent mark from beyond the arc. There's no secret what Kennard brings to the Pistons' offense. Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond have the frontcourt positions locked down, but Kennard should be part of a steady rotation on the wing when he gets healthy.
Kennard is second on the depth chart at the shooting guard position behind Reggie Bullock. Bullock has spent the last four seasons with Detroit and has seen his production rise in the last two seasons, so these two can both provide shooting at the 2-guard spot.
Once he returns from his shoulder injury, Kennard will look to make the most of his opportunities going forward and prove to the Pistons why they drafted him where they did last summer.
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