On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers officially lost a key player from last season in free agency.
The Phoenix Suns have announced their signing of Luke Kennard.
He finished the 2025-26 season with averages of 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest while shooting 53.3% from the field and 47.8% from three-point range in 78 games for the Lakers (and Hawks).
Suns.com wrote: “The Phoenix Suns announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Luke Kennard to a multi-year contract.”
Looking At Kennard’s NBA Career
Kennard was the 12th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
He has also spent time with the Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies over nine total seasons in the NBA.
In 2020 (with the Pistons), Kennard averaged a career-high 15.8 points per contest while shooting 39.9% from three-point range in 28 games.
Kennard will likely be a nice addition to a team that has Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges.
He is a valuable role player (and among the best shooters in the NBA).
His career averages are 9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest while shooting 46.6% from the field and 44.2% from three-point range in 538 games (127 starts).
The 30-year-old has also appeared in 38 NBA playoff games (seven starts).
Looking At The Suns
The Suns are coming off a year where they were the eighth seed in the Western Conference with a 45-37 record.
They reached the 2026 NBA playoffs after beating Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament.
That said, the Suns got swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
The franchise has been unable to return to the Western Conference finals since reaching the 2021 NBA Finals.
Los Angeles Lakers Officially Lose 9-Year NBA Player To Rival Team