The Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for the 2026 NBA offseason. After coming up short against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs, the Lakers will have a lot of decisions to make.
Most notably, the future of LeBron James is at the top of the offseason question list. Will he return to Los Angeles for another year? Could James leave town to end his NBA career with another franchise?
A lot of rumors have surrounded James leaving the Lakers to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Golden State Warriors have also come up as a possible suitor. James will have no shortage of options this offseason.
Keeping that in mind, there are other players that Los Angeles could lose as well. One of those players is sharpshooter Luke Kennard.
After acquiring Kennard before the trade deadline from the Atlanta Hawks, the veteran guard became a key part of the Lakers’ rotation. He is set to become a free agent this offseason and spoke out recently about his experience in L.A.
Lakers’ Free Agent Luke Kennard Speaks Out Honestly
Before free agency, Kennard made it perfectly clear that he enjoyed his time with the Lakers. However, he stopped short of saying that he would like to return.
“When I first got traded here, it was, ‘How can I make an impact?’” Kennard said. “Like, I want to make an impact, I want to go win and be a part of something special. I think just playing for the Lakers and playing with some of the greats of the game, you don’t take it for granted. I didn’t and it’s an honor. I’m blessed to be in the position that I was in.”
Kennard then spoke out about what he’s looking for in free agency at this stage of his career. His priority is winning.
“I think for me as a player, just to be a part of an organization like this is something special. You see it firsthand and like I said, I’m just blessed to be able to be a part of it. Obviously going into Year 10 next year, I wanna win. That’s a big thing for me. Wherever that may be, obviously I’m a free agent but gonna spend some time with my family and decide on some stuff later.”
He closed things out by saying that he has enjoyed his time with Los Angeles, but did not exactly state that he wants to return to the Lakers.
“But like I said, I’ve been honored and blessed to be part of this organization. Whether it’s here or somewhere else, it’s been a lot of fun.”
What Does Luke Kennard Bring to the Court?
Following the trade to Los Angeles, Kennard ended up playing in 32 games and making six starts. He averaged nine points per game to go along with 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Kennard shot 52.7 percent from the floor and 44.8 percent from beyond the three-point arc.
In the playoffs, Kennard played a key role. He averaged 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 10 games. Kennard shot 48.8 percent overall and 47.4 percent from the three-point line.
Kennard is going to have a good market when free agency opens up. There is a premium on elite three-point shooting and he’s one of the best in the league.
Expect to hear a lot of teams showing up with interest in the 29-year-old shooter when free agency opens. The Lakers would likely love to re-sign him, but they’ll have competition.
Lakers’ Luke Kennard Speaks Out Before NBA Free Agency