The Los Angeles Lakers added shooting to their roster at the trade deadline, acquiring Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for guard Gabe Vincent and a future second-round draft pick. Although the move was welcomed as a potential boost to the team’s perimeter offense, it also prompted questions about the Lakers’ overall strategy and whether they did enough to address their remaining needs.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka defended the trade, emphasizing the team’s focus on acquiring players who fit their long-term vision. “We were exceptionally aggressive,” Pelinka said, according to the Orange County Register, “We worked incredibly hard. We evaluated numerous things… but ended up making the move we made and we perceive good about it.” He specifically highlighted Kennard’s shooting ability, noting that he is “clearly, right now he’s the game’s best shooter leading in 3-point percentage,” as reported by LeBron Wire.
Kennard, a 6-foot-5 guard, is currently shooting 49.7% from three-point range, leading the NBA in that category. The Lakers, who have struggled with inconsistent shooting throughout the season, hope he can provide a reliable scoring threat off the bench and create spacing for stars like LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves. Pelinka envisioned potential lineups featuring Kennard, including an “all-shooting lineup” with Rui Hachimura, according to LeBron Wire.
However, the trade has drawn criticism from some observers who believe the Lakers should have prioritized acquiring a 3-and-D wing or addressing their frontcourt deficiencies. Tyler Watts of Lake Show Life argued that Pelinka should be relieved of his duties, stating the trade failed to address the team’s biggest needs, particularly on defense. The Lakers currently rank 25th in the league in defensive rating, a point Watts emphasized.
Despite the criticism, Kennard has already begun to make an impact. Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised Kennard’s ability to “start the blender” for the offense, creating opportunities for teammates with his shooting and passing. “We frankly have not had a ton of blender starters,” Redick said following a recent win against the Golden State Warriors. Redick also highlighted Kennard’s “we score” mentality and his willingness to make the extra pass, noting his ability to create opportunities for others even when he has a good look himself.
The Lakers currently rank 29th in the league in bench production, making Kennard’s contributions even more valuable. His ability to create open shots and make smart decisions has already been evident in several games, including a recent contest where he scored on a designed play and then assisted on a layup after drawing defensive attention.
Dončić, who has only played a handful of games with Kennard, has already expressed confidence in his new teammate’s ability to space the floor. The Lakers will need Kennard to continue to perform at a high level as they navigate the remainder of the season and prepare for a potential playoff run.
Kennard’s contract is expiring, leaving his long-term future with the Lakers uncertain. The team will need to evaluate his performance and determine whether to offer him a new contract during the offseason. For now, the focus remains on maximizing his impact and seeing how he can assist the Lakers achieve their goals.
