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The Lakers weren’t going to have the same kind of “if he shoots it, it’s going in” threat from 3 after Luke Kennard signed with the Phoenix Suns. And again — they were losing LeBron James. LeBron James. But though the Lakers’ fanbase winced, the franchise pushed forward with its plan — one more grounded in reality than people outside the organization could’ve imagined … even if day one was a total dud. “We weren’t surprised,” one team source told The Athletic, granted anonymity to freely discuss the Lakers’ offseason moves.
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Lakers free agent Rui Hachimura, Clippers free agent John Collins and Pistons free agent Tobias Harris are also known to be on San Antonio's list. Hachimura, for that matter, is also believed to still be drawing interest from Brooklyn and Detroit and is regarded as increasingly likely to join James. Smart and Phoenix-bound Luke Kennard out the exit door in Lakerland.
Yossi Gozlan: The Suns can sign Luke Kennard to two years, $12.4 million with the taxpayer mid-level exception. They can give him this with the non-tax mid-level if they get under the first apron. This signing offsets the $30 million in luxury tax savings from the Miles Bridges trade.
Grant Afseth: The Phoenix Suns have a strong level of interest in Luke Kennard ahead of NBA free agency. Kennard averaged 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists last season, while shooting 47.8% from 3-point range.
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League sources say the Hawks are the most active team in discussing trade scenarios. They completed a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night to acquire Aaron Wiggins into the trade exception they generated when they dealt Luke Kennard to the Los Angeles Lakers at the deadline. Sources have said Atlanta is discussing both trade-up and trade-down scenarios. But it also could just stay here and take the player it wants if he remains on the board.
The Lakers are interested in retaining Marcus Smart and sharpshooter Luke Kennard, sources told ESPN. Smart, who was recruited to L.A. by Doncic and has until June 29 to exercise the final year of his contract at $5.4 million, enjoyed his role with the Lakers and is hoping for a new contract and a raise, sources said. Kennard, for his part, was on an $11 million expiring contract and has interest in making L.A. his long-term home after previously playing 2½ seasons with the LA Clippers.
Sure, there is LeBron James and Austin Reaves, two of the biggest names available. But there are, too, veterans like Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart, and swing pieces like Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes. That means that the Lakers will have some choices to make. Increasingly, word is that the Lakers like a lot of the players they have on hand, and rather than making sweeping changes to the roster, could instead bring back a lot of last season’s players with just one midrange addition worth in the $20 million AAV range, likely for a big man. Making choices on getting rid of players who helped on the floor and in the locker room–Smart and Hachimura, perhaps–won’t be easy. “They have cap space and that’s a great position to be in,” one Western Conference executive said. “But they really like their group. They’re going to have to make a painful decision or two with that roster.”
Can the Lakers afford to bring back LeBron James on a $50 million salary and still be in a position to bolster their roster. When factoring in a new contract for Austin Reaves, that answer is a resounding no. Would James compromise to return to L.A.? A $30 million salary would allow the Lakers to re-sign Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura and use the full $15 million non-tax midlevel exception. The Lakers could also act as a cap space team but without Hachimura and Kennard. They would then have $20 million in room and also the $9.4 million room exception. As for suitors outside of the Lakers, teams such as Cleveland, Denver, Golden State and New York can offer only the $3.9 million veterans minimum.