Lakers threat emerges to sign Luke Kennard

The Los Angeles Lakers could face stiff competition to retain one of their top perimeter shooters in free agency. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Dan Woike, the Phoenix Suns are expected to pursue veteran sharpshooter Luke Kennard once free agency officially opens. The report also notes that the Lakers remain interested in bringing Kennard back.

“League sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations, tell Sam Amick and me that guard Luke Kennard is expected to draw significant interest from the Phoenix Suns once free agency officially opens later today…The Lakers, too, have interest in Kennard,” the report read in part.

Kennard emerged as a valuable floor spacer for both Atlanta and Los Angeles during the 2025-26 season. In 46 games with the Hawks, he averaged 7.9 points while shooting an impressive 49.0% from 3-point range and 91.4% from the free-throw line before being traded to the Lakers at the deadline in exchange for Gabe Vincent.

The veteran guard quickly carved out an important role in Los Angeles, averaging 9.0 points per game while shooting 44% from beyond the arc during the regular season. His impact grew during the playoffs, where he averaged 11.5 points and connected on 47.4% of his 3-point attempts. Kennard became a reliable secondary scoring option after late-season injuries sidelined Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Phoenix’s reported interest comes after the Suns reshaped their roster with the acquisition of Miles Bridges, creating another playoff contender in need of perimeter shooting.

If the Suns are successful in signing Kennard, they would add one of the NBA’s premier long-range shooters while simultaneously taking away a valuable contributor from the Lakers as the team looks to build the ideal roster around Luka Doncic.