The Los Angeles Lakers need to let Luke Kennard walk in free agency as they look to build a championship roster around Luka Doncic. Fans know that Kennard is a sharpshooter. He is 44.2 percent career 3-point shooter, but the 6’5 wing struggles on defense and turns into an easy target in the playoffs. The best teams will play him off the floor, and the Lakers simply can’t risk bringing him back.
Kennard is a free agent this offseason and is about to turn 30. The sharpshooter is in his prime, but isn’t suddenly transforming his game. The Oklahoma City Thunder exploited Kennard in the playoffs as they swept the Lakers. Luka wants to win a championship, and Kennard wants to get paid. Los Angeles can’t waste cap space on a player who isn’t helping the franchise win it all.
Fans know this story by now. It was on full display in the playoffs. Kennard struggled to make a postseason impact on the Grizzlies, Clippers, and Pistons before arriving in LA. He will hit shots and help space the floor, but the defensive issues make him a replacement-level option when the games matter most.
Lakers must let Luke Kennard walk to build a title contender around Luka Doncic
Luka is 27 years old and in the middle of his prime. He led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024, but couldn’t get past the Celtics. Doncic has topped the NBA in scoring in two of the last three years. The only thing missing from his resume is a championship. Fans know the Lakers are always chasing rings, and this summer is the time to build around number 77.
Los Angeles is expected to bring back Austin Reaves as Luka’s running mate. They have cap space and some clear needs. The Lakers must add a rim-protecting center, perimeter defense, and shooting. They want to be more like the 2024 Mavs.
To make those upgrades, the purple and gold will have to part with talented players. LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Kennard, Jaxson Hayes, and Maxi Kleber are all free agents. The Lakers would love to trade Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht. They also must sort out the futures of Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton, who have player options. The Lakers can’t keep everyone and upgrade.
Expect LA to choose between LeBron and Rui. They should send Kennard, Ayton, Vanderbilt, Knecht, and Kleber packing. That will let the franchise get players that fit around Luka and make them a serious title threat.
Kennard’s defense quickly becomes a problem when playing with Doncic and Reaves. They would have to stagger him with only one of LA’s stars, but that still gives the opposition two easy targets to exploit. It is just too much for the Lakers’ defense to overcome.
The Los Angeles Lakers must move on from Luke Kennard if they want to help Luka Doncic win a championship. Kennard is an elite shooter, but he struggles to make an impact on winning in the playoffs. The Lakers need more players with versatility and multiple skills. They can’t just have a shooter like Kennard if they want to defeat the Knicks, Spurs, and Thunder. That means it is time to move on.
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