The Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly talking about a trade

Multiple league sources tell NetsDaily that the Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies are discussing a potential trade that would potentially send Dorian Finney-Smith to Memphis in 2026 for wing John Konchar, shooting guard Luke Kennard and a protected first-rounder.

It is uncertain how far the talks have progressed and the level of protection remains a major issue, sources said. Konchar has three years — including this one — and $18.5 million remaining on his contract, while Kennard’s contract expires at $9.3 million. DFS is currently playing on a $14.9 million contract and has a $15.4 million player option next season, which he is expected to decline, likely making him a free agent. Both Konchar and Kennard are 28, Finney-Smith is 31.

A source said: “They are arguing about safeguards but it is being done.”

A second confirmed he had heard the same thing, but without details. He also pointed out that protections for the first-rounder were actually an issue, saying that Memphis’ proposed protections would make the pick “unlikely.”

Additionally, since Kennard has a one-year contract, he must agree to any trade.

The move from DFS would come less than a month after the Nets traded Dennis Schroder and a protected Heat second-rounder in this year’s draft to the Warriors for two point guards, DeAndre Melton, who is out for the season, and two- Way point Reece Beekman, as well as three unprotected seconds – two from the Hawks in 2026 and a Warriors pick in 2029,

The Nets currently have multiple first-rounders in every draft through 2029, with the exception of 2026, which like this year’s class is considered top-notch. In total, Brooklyn has 15 first-rounders and 13 second-rounders through 2031.

Marc Stein, who suggested two days ago that the Nets and Grizzlies could be trade partners, confirmed the ND report and added that Brooklyn would also give Memphis “second-round draft compensation”…

Earlier Saturday, Jake Weinbach tweeted Memphis’ reasons for the rumored trade…

Konchar, who played his entire seven-year career at Memphis, is dealing with a quadriceps injury and has played in just 17 games, averaging 2.8 points, the same number of rebounds and 1.1 assists. A solid defender, Konchar has career averages of 4.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and a shooting distribution of 47/36/72.

Kennard, who like Konchar is 6-foot-1 and, like Konchar, was injured for most of the season, played in just six games due to a muscle strain in his foot. When healthy, he is one of the game’s best 3-point shooters, ranking third all-time at 43.9%, behind only Steve Kerr and Hubie Green. Over the course of his career, he averaged just under 10 points per game, coming off the bench in 305 of his 410 games. Ironically, Memphis traded Ziaire Williams and the Mavs’ 2030 second-rounder to the Nets in July to free up money to sign Kennard. Both Konchar and Kennard could be traded again this season, but only in the simplest of transactions, either for another player or a draft pick. Anything more complicated would be prohibited since teams must wait 60 days to include traded players in larger deals and the trade deadline is just 39 days away. Kennard would also retain veto power over any subsequent trade.

The big prize would be another first-round win, assuming the reported protection issue can be resolved. As Yossi Gozlan of CapSheets.com noted after the NetsDaily report, the Grizz 2026 pick could become valuable under certain circumstances.

DFS would provide immediate relief for the injury-plagued Grizzlies…

Despite battling injuries himself this season and missing 11 games, DFS is shooting a career-best 43.5% from distance and averaging a near-career-best 10.3 points.

If the trade goes through as reported, Brooklyn would have to release a player. Melton, as previously mentioned, is out for the season.

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In other Nets news, both Cams – Thomas and Johnson – are listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Magic.

Cam Thomas has missed the last 13 contests in Brooklyn with a left hamstring strain. When Thomas went down, the Nets had the eighth-best offense in the league. Since then, they have been ranked 29th. Johnson missed Friday’s game against Spurs because of a bruised right hip.