The Los Angeles Lakers made a significant move at the NBA trade deadline by acquiring Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Gabe Vincent. This addition aims to strengthen the Lakers’ bench shooting, addressing a key weakness as the team pushes into the playoff race.
JJ Redick Praises Kennard’s Shooting Ability
Lakers coach JJ Redick shared his enthusiasm for Kennard’s arrival, emphasizing the shooter’s elite capabilities.
“He’s one of the best shooters in the NBA and I’m going to encourage him to shoot more,”
Redick said, highlighting the Lakers’ plan to leverage Kennard’s long-range scoring to boost their offense.
Context Behind the Trade Decision
Until this last-minute deal, the Lakers remained quiet during the trade deadline, surprising many who expected them to pursue a star like Giannis Antetokounmpo. Instead, they opted to enhance their perimeter shooting by adding a reliable scorer off the bench. This strategic choice reflects a focus on improving spacing and offensive efficiency.
Kennard’s Impact on Lakers’ Three-Point Shooting
Luke Kennard has impressed this season with the Hawks, averaging 7.9 points per game while shooting an impressive 53.8% from the field and a league-leading 49.7% from three-point range. The Lakers currently rank 19th in three-point shooting, highlighting the value Kennard brings to their roster.
Among Lakers’ existing shooters, Rui Hachimura leads with 43.8% from downtown, while Austin Reaves has made 37.2% of his three-point attempts. Other players have struggled to reach the 35% mark, underscoring the importance of Kennard’s sharpshooting presence.
Potential Role and Team Outlook
Concerns about Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury add urgency to Kennard’s role, as the Lakers will need reliable shooters if key players face absences. At 31-19, holding the fifth seed in the Western Conference, the Lakers are competing tightly for playoff positioning. Kennard’s scoring ability could be crucial in matchups against strong opponents such as the Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.
The Lakers expect Kennard to make his debut soon, potentially as early as Saturday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, marking a pivotal step in their quest to climb the standings and make a deep postseason run.
“He’s one of the best shooters in the NBA and I’m going to encourage him to shoot more” – JJ Redick offers his first thoughts on the Lakers trading for Luke Kennard, while praising Gabe Vincent for his time with the Lakers pic.twitter.com/wI7ua5wJv7
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 6, 2026
