Lakers 2026 NBA trade deadline assessment after Luke Kennard deal

in 2026 NBA trade deadline came and went, and Los Angeles Lakers made only one deal, acquiring a sharpshooting guard Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Gabe Vincent and a second round pick. We are already rated that job per se, but how does the overall trade deadline stack up for the Lakers based on what we know?

NBA Lakers 2026 Trade Deadline Rating

It’s no secret that the Lakers entered the trade deadline with very few assets at their disposal. It was also very clear that this current iteration of the Lakers roster is not a championship caliber team. Because of this, it led to some confusion among the team’s overzealous fans.

Simply put, there was no major deal at the deadline that would have led the Lakers to a championship this season. The Lakers were linked to players like Keon Ellis and De’Andre Hunter, but ultimately didn’t land either. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

When you look at reported the frame for the Hunter trade with the Cavsthe name that came up was Rui Hachimura. And frankly, it would almost be a lateral move at best. Hunter isn’t quite the 3&D player that Lakers fans would expect. He’s been a solid defender for the team, but he’s not the one-on-one stopper the team needs.

And as for shooting, Hachimura has knocked down over 40 percent of his 3-point attempts over the past three seasons. There’s a reason Lakers head coach JJ Redick called him one of the absolute best catch-and-shoot players in the NBA. Hunter himself is a skilled shooter off the catch, but he only had one season where he shot 40 percent from distance.

And finally, there was the money aspect. Hachimura’s contract is expiring. Now, he could obviously end up re-signing with the Lakers in the offseason, but that also represents the organization’s desire to preserve financial flexibility moving forward. Hunter has one year remaining on this deal at around $24 million.

When it comes to Keon Ellis, that seemed like the asking price from the Kings was draft compensation the Lakers simply didn’t have available, according to Dan Woike of the Athletics. You can’t make something happen if you don’t have the means to do it. It doesn’t matter what Ellis is ultimately traded for, it takes draft capital to make it happen from the Lakers’ standpoint.

The Lakers were rumored to have interest in other players such as Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Cummings, but they were even more of a stretch than Hunter or Ellis. If they didn’t have the funds for Hunter or Ellis, they certainly didn’t have them for Wiggins or Cummings. And in Kuminga’s case, he didn’t fit what the Lakers needed either.

That said, the Lakers didn’t just meet the deadline. They partially addressed their needs by adding the best 3-point shooter in Luke Kennard. Kennard leads the league in 3-point percentage at 49.7 percent. This year it’s at a rare 50/40/90. He will thrive on the open looks he will get playing with Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

The Lakers will still lose their defense. As documented as Gabe Vincent’s shooting struggles were, he gave 100 percent defensive effort every game. He played hard. Let’s just say that Kennard will never be mistaken for an all-defensive caliber player.

But overall, Kennard’s skill set is a plus and should help as the Lakers try to hang on in a tough Western Conference playoff picture. Overall, Rob Pelinka and the front office shouldn’t be judged so harshly at this deadline because the team was essentially handcuffed in terms of the moves it could make. But this offseason, amid what is expected to be a solid cap space, expectations will rise.

Final trade deadline grade: B