Tennessee basketball: Updated Mock NBA Draft has Kennedy Chandler staying home

He’s an elite combo guard who clearly has a connection with Ja Morant. As a result, former Tennessee basketball star Kennedy Chandler staying home in the pros actually makes sense, even if there are questions about where he would fit in.

Jonathan Givony of ESPN has Chandler going 22nd to the Memphis Grizzlies in his latest NBA Draft projections. Chandler is from Memphis and went to Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tenn., before going to Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas.

Throughout his time with Tennessee basketball, Morant would constantly tweet about Chandler and the success he was having. That dates back to when Chandler committed to the Vols and Morant called him a brother. The two have been connected for a while. Here’s what was written about Chandler to Memphis.

"With the impending free agency of backup point guard Tyus Jones, who is in line for a raise after an excellent season, adding depth in the backcourt could make a lot of sense, especially with a local product like Chandler. He was one of the most talented point guards in college, blessed with incredible speed and burst, terrific ballhandling ability and creativity as a finisher and passer, and flashes of real shot-making ability. Despite being on the smaller side, Chandler’s quickness, basketball instincts and length made him a significant asset defensively last season, allowing him to make a living getting in passing lanes while also being a real pest on the ball."

Beyond the connection between Chandler and Morant, the Griz may have an open slot for him. Tyus Jones, the backup point guard to Morant this past year, is now an unrestricted free agent, and that leaves an opening for a player of Chandler’s caliber.

Given how Taylor Jenkins likes his point guards to be scoring threats as well, Chandler could be the perfect backup to Morant. Similar to Jones and Morant last year, the two could play on the court together at times if the moment called for it.

There’s the chance Jones re-signs anyway, and even at that point, Chandler could be a solid pickup. For starters, he could develop as the No. 3 point guard, and he could also provide a scoring punch off the bench in the games Jenkins decides to run Jones and Morant together.

Of course, Chandler is not as ready to be effective in the NBA as Jones was last year, and he’s not as NBA ready in general as Morant was coming out, so don’t get it twisted. He had some clear weaknesses on display with Tennessee basketball this past year.

Free throw shooting alone is something Chandler needs to work on. Defense will likely be a concern too given his frame at 6’1″ 170 pounds. Sure, he does have a nice midrange, but that’s a dying art form at the next level anyway.

Still, Chandler has a lot of promise, and he showed the intangibles with Tennessee basketball to be able to play at the next level. As a result, him going to Memphis to play with Morant and be developed right would be a great situation, and he could fill a need.