The Los Angeles Lakers took a quality over quantity approach at this year's NBA trade deadline. All Rob Pelinka budged on was flipping Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard. Fine wine does not do that move justice.
Despite the odds stacked against them with the absences of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers enjoyed a 107-98 victory in Game 1 against the Houston Rockets on Saturday night. Who was the leading scorer for Los Angeles? That would be the aforementioned steal they got at the trade deadline.
Kennard finished the night with 27 points, shooting 9-of-13 from the field and 5-of-5 from beyond the arc. For the Lakers sharpshooter, that was a career high in the scoring department for the NBA Playoffs. It could not have come at a better time for Los Angeles.
The Lakers got a fantastic balanced scoring effort from every starter hitting double digits. LeBron James was an orchestrator for Los Angeles from the jump. However, it was Kennard that stood out brightest on the offensive end beyond that. For all the criticism Pelinka has gotten over the years, often deserved, sometimes not, this move was a slam dunk.
Lakers won the Luke Kennard trade beyond a single shred of doubt
Lakers fans have not always been kind in their evaluations of the job Pelinka has done. This one leaves no room for interpretation.
Kennard has been tremendous for the Lakers since being asked to take on more responsibility. JJ Redick was bold enough to look at the veteran sniper and not put him in a box as just a floor-spacer. The second-year coach deserves plenty of pats on the back as well.
The option to do what Redick has done would not be there in the first place without Pelinka.
There are plenty of shortcomings when discussing the Lakers general manager. Pelinka can struggle to fill out the end of a roster. His recent draft history is also not particularly strong either.
Considering the Lakers had very little to work with, in terms of attractive assets to dangle on the trade market, adding Kennard for pennies is phenomenal work. Pelinka managed to execute a move that threaded the needle to both satisfy the short-term goals of raising the competitive levels in Los Angeles and maintain the financial flexibility that has clearly been prioritized.
More performances akin to what Kennard had in Game 1 will force the Lakers' hand in free agency when it comes to that available money. If the veteran wing continues to shine in purple and gold, a potential rental may quickly become a long-term piece around Doncic.
Add us as a preferred source on Google