Perhaps we were all wrong to believe that the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Luke Kennard to address their three-point shooting. Kennard has always been more than just a spot-up shooter, with the ability to create for himself and others in a pinch.
One simply can't help but wonder why one of the most prolific three-point shooters of his generation has suddenly begun to deprioritize the very shot he's mastered.
Kennard arrived in Los Angeles averaging 3.2 three-point field goal attempts per game and 5.7 per 36 minutes. He's only played seven games in Los Angeles, but his averages have declined rather dramatically to 2.3 and 3.8.
It's a baffling development considering Kennard is not only efficient, but currently No. 1 in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage at a mind-blowing 49.1 percent.
For a Lakers team that ranks in the bottom half of the NBA in three-point field goal percentage, one would think that Kennard's shooting would be a priority. Instead, there's a clear lack of consistency in the sense of generating and even attempting the type of looks they need.
The question is: What exactly has changed about Kennard's approach and how can the Lakers ensure that his greatest strength is still heavily emphasized?
Lakers wing Luke Kennard, NBA leader in 3PT FG%, isn't shooting 3s
Prior to joining the Lakers, 42.5 percent of Kennard's field goal attempts were wide-open looks. That number has dropped to 26.5 in Los Angeles. That's not necessarily a bad thing, of course, as he's already taken on a larger on-ball role than what he had with the Atlanta Hawks.
That's evident in the fact that only 2.1 percent of his touches lasted longer than six seconds in Atlanta and 8.8 meet that standard in Los Angeles.
The alarming change, however, is a matter of efficiency. Kennard is shooting just 27.3 percent on catch-and-shoot threes with the Lakers after burying a stunning 51.2 percent of his attempts during his time with the Hawks.
Kennard has offset that issue by attempting 12 shots in the restricted area through seven appearances with the Lakers—compared to 36 in 53 games with the Hawks.
The upside is that Kennard is burying midrange jumpers, floaters, and even three-point field goals in limited volume. The downside is that he just went an entire game against the Orlando Magic without attempting a single three and his catch-and-shoot value has been neutralized.
There are other concerns that the Lakers are likely to prioritize, but getting their best three-point shooter to return to form in catch-and-shoot scenarios must be a focal point moving forward.