The Los Angeles Lakers traded Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick to get Luke Kennard before the deadline. The sharpshooter is already proving to be an absolute steal for the purple and gold. He gives LA a needed floor spacer, as Vincent has somehow taken another step back in Atlanta.
Lakers fans spent years being frustrated by the 6'2 guard. They signed Vincent in 2023 when he was fresh off being a starter for the Heat as they reached the NBA Finals. Los Angeles thought they were getting a 3-and-D guard capable of playing a key role on a contender. Instead, Vincent struggled to make shots and barely played over 20 minutes per game.
It was time to move on, and Rob Pelinka saw a low-cost opportunity to solve a need. Before Kennard’s first game, the Lakers were 23rd in 3-pointers made and 21st in long-range percentage. The sharpshooter has made an immediate impact, as Vincent has been disastrous for the Hawks.
Luke Kennard is the shooter the Lakers desperately needed
LA had virtually zero shooting coming off the bench before landing Kennard. He is closing in on making the most 3-pointers by a Lakers bench player this season in 13 games. Kennard has made 52.5 percent from long range over his 40 attempts. Defenses have to sell out to stop the star trio, which is leaving plenty of opportunities for others to feast.
Kennard has nearly solved the Lakers' shooting woes by himself. In the 13 games since the trade, the Lakers are second in 3-point percentage and 18th in threes made. Teams don’t want to leave the sharpshooter open, which is creating plenty of headaches. Â
Gabe Vincent is struggling with the Hawks
Vincent is shooting 31.0 percent from the field and 20.1 percent on his threes through his first seven games with the Hawks. Lakers fans know he can be streaky and is not the ideal floor spacer. Atlanta needs shooting and is moving him to the fringes of the rotation. Vincent has played just nine total minutes in the last two games.
The 29-year-old is making $11.5 million in the final year of his contract. There is no way he can replicate that money in free agency this summer. The Lakers literally dumped a negative part of their rotation and what will likely be a late second-round pick for one of the best 3-point shooters in league history.
Los Angeles knows they need shooting and defense around Luka Doncic to be a serious title contender. Kennard gives them an option that seemingly never misses. It was a smart move, even if the 6’5 wing leaves in free agency this summer. The Lakers filled a need and got confirmation on how to maximize things around Luka.
The Los Angeles Lakers have already won the Luke Kennard trade. They got a key piece who is already lifting their team. Gabe Vincent’s continued struggles further proven that LA was right to move on. It was never going to happen for the 6'2 guard wearing purple and gold.
This was a massive win for the Lakers, and fans hope that it becomes a trend. Los Angeles want to remake their roster this summer, and the pressure is already on to get it right. It is moves like this that will help bring the best out of Luka Doncic.
Shooters and defenders should be the targets. Dumping a struggling shooter in Vincent for an elite option like Kennard is something they must replicate. All fans can do is stay tuned to see how it all plays out.