The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to try to keep Luke Kennard beyond the current campaign, according to a report from Ashish Mathur of Lakers Daily.
Kennard, 29, joined Los Angeles at the February trade deadline in the move that sent Gabe Vincent to the Atlanta Hawks. Since arriving, the guard has averaged 9.5 points over 18 games while shooting 56.9 percent from the field and 46.4 percent from three-point range. His overall three-point mark of 48.8 percent leads the NBA this season.
Team officials view the veteran as a floor-spacer who complements Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the report said. The Lakers are 12-6 with Kennard in uniform and have moved to third place in the Western Conference standings.
ESPN projects Los Angeles to enter the summer with roughly $60 million in salary-cap room, giving the front office flexibility to re-sign Kennard and address other roster priorities. The club has been linked to a possible pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, a scenario that would further elevate the need for outside shooting.
Several key Lakers are headed for free agency, including LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes, while Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton hold player options. Amid those decisions, Kennard’s league-best accuracy and low-usage style appear to have made a strong impression on the organization.
Source: Hoops Wire
