The Los Angeles Lakers made a significant move ahead of the trade deadline by acquiring guard Luke Kennard from the Hawks in exchange for Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick, according to multiple reports. This trade marks what appears to be the Lakers’ sole transaction of this deadline.
Lakers fans may recognize Kennard from his previous stint with the Clippers and his notable performances against teams like the Grizzlies in the playoffs. This season, Kennard has showcased his remarkable shooting ability, ranking among the league’s elite 3-point shooters with a phenomenal 49.7% shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Over the course of his career, he has maintained a 44.2% shooting rate on 3-pointers, underscoring his consistent offensive threat.
In the last five seasons, Kennard has averaged nearly five attempts per game while connecting on an impressive 46% of those shots from deep. This acquisition comes at a crucial time for a Lakers team that currently ranks 22nd in both 3-point percentage and attempts per game, highlighting Kennard’s potential to greatly enhance their perimeter shooting.
While the Lakers have given up their 2032 second-round pick, leaving them without any second-round selections for the foreseeable future, they have demonstrated a tendency to acquire such picks in past drafts. Under the new ownership, the team has been active in buying second-round picks, as seen last season when they executed multiple trades involving cash to move up and draft Adou Thiero.
From a financial standpoint, the Lakers managed to reduce their salary by $500,000 with this trade, providing them more flexibility under the league’s salary cap, which may prove valuable when pursuing buyout players or finalizing their roster.
As this story develops, fans are encouraged to stay updated on further developments regarding the Lakers’ roster and potential future moves.