Los Angeles, United States
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The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired guard Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for guard Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick ahead of the NBA trade deadline, according to league and team reports published Thursday. The move is intended to strengthen Los Angeles’ perimeter shooting as the team pushes through the 2025–26 regular season.
Luke Kennard, 29, is widely regarded as one of the league’s most accurate three-point shooters. He is converting 49.7% of his attempts from beyond the arc this season and holds a career mark above 44%, production that analysts say addresses a key weakness for the Lakers, who have ranked near the bottom of the NBA in team three-point percentage.
The veteran shooting guard had been playing on a one-year, $11 million contract signed with Atlanta in July 2025 and is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Both Kennard and Vincent, also 29, are in the final year of their respective deals, making the transaction a swap of expiring contracts with limited long-term salary implications.
Luke Kennard entered the league as the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and has since played for multiple franchises, including Detroit, the Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis and Atlanta, before the move to the Lakers. He has averaged roughly eight points, two rebounds and two assists per game across his career, primarily contributing as a perimeter scorer and floor spacer.
For Atlanta, the acquisition of Vincent and a future draft asset continues a series of roster changes made before the deadline as the franchise reshapes its backcourt rotation. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is expected to rely on Luke Kennard shooting to complement its existing core while maintaining financial flexibility for potential offseason moves.
The trade represents the Lakers principal deadline transaction, signaling a measured midseason adjustment rather than a broader roster overhaul. The story is developing.
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