Los Angeles Lakers Acquire Luke Kennard From Atlanta Hawks

Kennard leads the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage. He’s averaging 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this season while shooting 53.8% from the field, 49.7% from beyond the arc and 91.4% from the free-throw line.

A Duke product, Kennard is making $11 million this season. He becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The lefty has played for the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies and Hawks. He has career averages of 9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 44.2% from 3.

The Lakers are in sixth place in the Western Conference standings. They needed more shooting around Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Los Angeles is 23rd in the NBA in 3s and 22nd in 3-point field goal percentage.

Dončić was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers last season. Los Angeles lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games despite having Dončić and James.

Dončić, who leads the NBA in points per game this season, lost weight last offseason and could win his first MVP Award this year.

James, 41, becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018. The future Hall of Famer hasn’t decided whether he plans to retire or continue playing next season.

Reaves is expected to decline his player option for next season to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The Lakers are widely expected to re-sign the talented guard.