The Los Angeles Lakers have secured guard Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks in a trade finalized on Thursday morning, sending guard Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick to Atlanta. This move bolsters the Lakers’ offense with Kennard’s sharp shooting ability as the trade deadline approached.
Reason Behind the Lakers’ Move to Add Kennard
General Manager Rob Pelinka appeared poised to maintain the roster until this late transaction added a veteran guard known for his catch-and-shoot talent. At 29 years old, Kennard’s experience and shooting prowess are expected to complement stars LeBron James and Luka Dončić, offering the Lakers a more reliable perimeter scoring option.
Kennard’s Recent Career and Season Performance
Before joining the Hawks this offseason on a one-year, $11 million contract, Kennard spent three seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. This season, he has averaged 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 46 games, mainly coming off the bench with an average of 20.5 minutes per outing. Notably, Kennard is making a career-high 49.7% of his three-point attempts, the best rate in the NBA among players attempting at least three three-pointers per game.
Kennard’s Impact on Lakers’ Three-Point Shooting
So far, Kennard has sunk 74 three-pointers this season, ranking second only to Dončić on the team, who leads with 149 triples. The Lakers have struggled to be a consistent threat from beyond the arc all season, currently sitting 23rd in three-pointers made per game and 22nd in three-point shooting percentage. Kennard’s addition addresses a critical team weakness by providing more shooting depth and spacing on the floor.
Sources Reporting the Trade Details
The Athletic broke the initial news of Gabe Vincent being traded for Kennard, while ESPN’s Shams Charania revealed the full terms of the deal. This trade signals the Lakers’ intent to strengthen their roster ahead of the postseason push.
