Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Lakers add sharpshooter in trade with Hawks

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Feb 5, 2026 11:30 AM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to make one more run with superstar LeBron James.

On Thursday, just hours before the NBA trade deadline, the Lakers made a trade involving the Atlanta Hawks. The Lakers sent Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to Atlanta in exchange for sharpshooter Luke Kennard.

The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

The Hawks traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in December. On Wednesday, Atlanta traded away center Kristaps Porzingis to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga.

Now, the Hawks acquire Vincent and a draft pick, but the plan is for them to keep both Hield and Vincent on the roster, at least for the rest of the season.

I'm told the plan is for Atlanta to keep both of Gabe Vincent and Buddy Hield.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) February 5, 2026

In the 2023 offseason, Vincent signed a three-year, $33 million deal with the Lakers, but he has disappointed since coming to LA.

Kennard signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the Hawks in 2025, but he is a player who could fit nicely alongside Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic and James.

Kennard is averaging just 7.9 points per game, but he is shooting 49.7 percent from three-point land, which is an area the Lakers desperately need to improve in. As of Thursday, LA is shooting just 34.9 percent from three as a team, which is toward the bottom of the NBA.

Kennard now joins his fifth NBA team and returns to the city of LA, where he spent two-plus seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: