Lakers Acquire Elite Sharpshooter Kennard from Hawks
The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired guard Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for guard Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick, addressing a critical shooting weakness ahead of the playoff push. The trade, announced Thursday, brings the NBA’s most prolific 3-point shooter to a roster built around LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves.
A Targeted Upgrade
Kennard, 29, is shooting a career-best 49.7% from 3-point range this season—leading the entire league. The sharpshooting forward is averaging 7.9 points across 46 games while taking 62.1% of his shots from deep, making him an ideal complement to the Lakers’ three star players. In his ninth NBA season, Kennard brings proven consistency from beyond the arc, with a career 44.2% clip from 3-point range.
The Lakers have struggled with perimeter shooting this season, ranking 19th in 3-point attempt rate and 21st in 3-point percentage. Coach JJ Redick had envisioned a high-volume, efficient offense, but lineup combinations featuring the team’s three best offensive players have operated in the 20th percentile for offensive efficiency, hampered by poor shooting and rebounding issues.
What the Hawks Receive
Atlanta adds depth at the guard position with Gabe Vincent, an 11-year veteran averaging 4.8 points and 1.3 assists in 29 games this season while shooting 35% from the field and 37% from three. The Hawks also secured a second-round pick in the deal and created an $11 million trade exception, buying themselves flexibility for future roster adjustments.
The Hawks moved Kennard despite his production, likely to clear minutes for recently acquired forward Jonathan Kuminga. However, Atlanta has now shed significant shooting talent at the deadline after also trading Vít Krejčí to Portland, leaving newly acquired Buddy Hield, Zaccharie Risacher, and Corey Kispert to shoulder increased 3-point responsibility.
Playoff Implications
The Lakers remain focused on contention with limited remaining assets—they now have no second-round picks left to trade. The move represents their primary deadline activity, with the team unlikely to make significant additions before the postseason. For the Hawks, trailing the No. 7 playoff seed by two games, the trade gamble hinges on whether the Kuminga acquisition proves worthwhile and whether their remaining shooters can compensate for the departures.
