LOS ANGELES — The Lakers are acquiring Luke Kennard from the Hawks in a trade that’ll send Gabe Vincent and the team’s lone tradeable second-round pick to Atlanta.
A source confirmed to the California Post that the Lakers will trade for Kennard ahead of Thursday’s noon trade deadline.
Dec 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Luke Kennard (3) shoots in the first half against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Rick Osentoski-Imagn ImagesThe Lakers are making the trade with the hopes that the 29-year-old Kennard will address their shooting woes and provide better spacing offensively around the team’s stars in Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
The Lakers’ season-long 3-point percentage of 34.9% ranked No. 22 entered Thursday’s home game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Kennard has shot 44.2% on 3s for his career, which is the second-highest mark in league history among qualified players, including a league-best 49.7% from beyond the arc this season.
His catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage of 51.2% is also a league-best mark among the 309 players who’ve attempted at least 40 catch-and-shoot 3s in 2025-26. Kennard has been top-five in catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage (minimum 70 attempts) in the three previous seasons (2022-25), including also leading the league at 52.6% in 2022-23.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 11: Luke Kennard #3 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball in the first half against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on January 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) Getty ImagesThe second-round pick the Lakers are sending to Atlanta is for 2032, with the Lakers out of second-round picks to trade until the draft in June.
Their lone tradeable picks are their first-rounders 2031 and 2032. They entered Thursday with the ability to trade one, but not both, of those picks since teams aren’t able to trade away their first-round draft picks in consecutive years because of the “Stepien Rule”.
The Lakers signed Vincent to a three-year, $33 contract in July 2023 after Vincent spent the first four seasons of his NBA career with the Miami Heat.
Vincent had an injury-riddled 2023-24, playing just 11 regular-season games because of left knee ailments that required surgery. He played 72 games last season, and was shooting a career-high 36.9% on 3s this season before being traded.
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 1: Gabe Vincent #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on February 1, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty ImagesKennard is on a one-year, $11 million contract that’ll expire after this season, helping the Lakers maintain their “optionality” and cap flexibility this offseason, which has been a priority.
The Lakers have signaled that they’re looking to maintain as much cap space as reasonably possible heading into the offseason, with James’ $52.6 million salary as part of his expiring contract coming off their books.
With the trade, the Lakers will have four other players on expiring deals: Rui Hachimura ($18.3 million for 2025-26), Kennard ($11 million), Maxi Kleber ($11 million) and Jaxson Hayes ($3.4 million).
Austin Reaves ($13.9 million), Deandre Ayton ($8.1 million) and Marcus Smart ($5.1 million) also have player options for 2026-27.
Even with Reaves expected to get a significant pay raise with the Lakers this summer on a new deal that could triple his salary, the Lakers will have more options to build a roster that’s better suited to fit Doncic and Reaves – the vision that’s been guiding them entering the deadline.
