LOS ANGELES — As the NBA trade deadline approached, the Lakers identified some clear gaps in their roster: they needed more athleticism, better perimeter defense, toughness, and effective 3-point shooting.
With the trade for Luke Kennard from the Hawks, where Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick were sent to Atlanta, the Lakers managed to fill at least one of these gaps. This move is aimed at bolstering their lineup and enhancing their playoff chances.
Kennard stands out as one of the top shooters in the league, hitting an impressive 49.7% from 3-point range this season.
For a Lakers team that was sitting at 22nd in 3-point shooting percentage (34.9%) at the deadline, adding Kennard could improve spacing and shooting alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James.
But how much will Kennard’s shooting help? And does this trade bring the Lakers any closer to a championship?
Dynamic Shooter
Kennard’s 3-point shooting isn’t just a lucky streak.
Throughout his career, he’s averaged 44.2% from beyond the arc, which is remarkable historically among eligible players. His catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage? A stellar 51.2%, leading among those with at least 40 attempts this season. He’s consistently ranked among the top shooters in this category for the past few years, and he even topped the league in 2022-23 with a 52.6% mark.
Kennard’s skills could be a significant asset for a Lakers squad that has struggled with making open shots, particularly in “catch-and-shoot” scenarios as well as corner threes, where they ranked among the worst in the league.
He could essentially act as an offensive pressure release on the perimeter, similar to Rui Hachimura. Coach JJ Redick might design some plays for Kennard that Vincent had previously run, but Kennard has more tools to succeed in that role.
While Vincent had a solid shooting year before the trade with a 36.9% rate, Kennard is on another level altogether.
Defensive Concerns
However, when it comes to defense, it’s a trade-off. Kennard provides a significant upgrade as a shooter, but he matches or falls short of Vincent’s defensive abilities.
Over the past few seasons, Kennard has not shined as a perimeter or rotational defender. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely the Lakers will show improvement in this area with his addition. There’s already a dilemma where their most reliable offensive players aren’t great defenders while their best defenders lack offensive consistency, especially from long range.
Bringing in Kennard may actually exacerbate this issue.
Contract Situation
Still, the Lakers managed to tick off one of their priority needs without sacrificing key players or cap flexibility. Kennard comes with a one-year contract worth $11 million that ends after this season.
While Kennard’s addition is beneficial, he alone isn’t a cure-all for championship aspirations.
That said, the Lakers may not be done reshaping their roster just yet. They still have opportunities to either sign a player from the buyout market or convert one of their two two-way contracts (Drew Timmy, Nick Smith Jr., Chris Mannone) into a standard deal.
Compared to teams with stronger two-way options in the Western Conference like the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, Timberwolves, or Rockets, the Lakers may still have some catching up to do. But at least they’ve improved without jeopardizing future plans, and that’s a win of its own.
