Lakers trade Luke Kennard-Gabe Vincent with Hawks

As the days counted down to Thursday’s trade deadline, the main question being asked Los Angeles Lakers‘ fans was the move or moves the team would make. That question was partially answered on the morning of the trade deadline as The Lakers acquired wing Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick in 2032.

It was no secret that entering the trade deadline, The Lakers were looking for 3&D help on the wing. This move only addresses part of that. So let’s dive in and come up with a score for the Lakers trade with the Hawks to add Luke Kennard.

Lakers evaluation trades with Hawks for Luke Kennard

If part of the Lakers’ plan was to add a 3-point shooter at the deadline, well, they added the NBA’s top 3-point shooter. Luke Kennard shot a league-leading 49.7 percent from 3-point range this season, on just over three attempts per game.

Kennard has always been a good 3-point shooter. He is averaging 44.2 percent shooting from distance in his career, and this is the third time in his career that he has led the NBA in 3-point percentage. When the LA Clippers traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023, he ended up shooting a career-best 54 percent from 3-point range on just over five attempts.

And it’s not just his 3-point shooting that has made Kennard effective this season. He’s just a high percentage player. Through 46 games with the Hawks this season, he is reached rare 50/40/90, the second time in his career that he has done so. He shoots 53.8 percent from the field, and 91.4 percent from the free throw line.

The only problem with Kennard’s shooting is that he doesn’t always shoot. He can sometimes miss shots in favor of the second play, and he’s only taking about five shot attempts per game this season. For a Lakers team that needs consistent shooting, he can’t be afraid to let the ball go.

And then there is the other side of the equation. Kennard certainly addresses the Lakers’ shooting issues, but he doesn’t exactly address their defensive issues. And it’s kind of a trade-off with the Gabe Vincent move. Vincent wasn’t the caliber of shooter that Kennard was, but he was also much more effective defensively.

While Lakers fans have bemoaned Vincent’s poor shooting of late, one thing that could never be questioned was his defensive tenacity and willingness to play hard. In a season where Lakers head coach JJ Redick often emphasized the need to really play hard, Vincent was always up to the challenge.

But the Lakers had to make a move. They were 22nd in the league in 3-point percentage. Adding a scorer of Kennard’s caliber is a plus even if his defense isn’t what you’d like. And it’s not all he does is stand in the corner and shoot. He has the ability to handle the ball and play off the dribble. Over the past few seasons with the Grizzlies, he averaged just over three assists per game. During his time with the Pistons, he averaged a career-best 4.1 assists when the ball was in his hands more often.

Obviously, he won’t have the ball in his hands as often with the Lakers, but it’s a skill set that the team can use at times. While Kennard may not solve the Lakers’ defensive problems, he does bring valuable skills that will help this team.

Final Grade: B- However, this may end up being a B+ if Kennard doesn’t hesitate to shoot.