Luke Kennard Discussion

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by KareemtheGreat33, Feb 5, 2026.

  1. 52years

    52years - Rookie -

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    When I suggested they look into getting him I did so to help 3pt shooting and spacing.I didn’t realize how well he finishes around the basket and his passing ability.
     
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  2. karacha

    karacha Moderator Staff Member

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    Deep down, he's a playmaker, who just happens to shoot really well. :LLLLLebronlaughing:
     
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  3. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    I think we should slot him as our backup PG moving forward. Smart can focus on the backup SG. Redundancy is always good, we have Luka and Reaves in the starting unit to handle the ball and Luke and Smart as backups.

    If LeBron stays that’s 5 ball handlers and lots of IQ.
     
  4. Panko

    Panko - Lakers 6th Man -

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    We have an embarrassment of riches on playmaking, and just an embarrassment on defense. (Most of the time)
     
  5. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    when i kind of scoffed at getting him, it's because i had no idea he could pass and finish as well as he does. this is what happens when you get old and stop buying league pass, lol.
     
  6. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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  7. sk2408

    sk2408 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    I will once again caution folks on Luke. The Clippers fans had the exact same realization about his underrated playmaking chops in 2021, to the point that a lot of them wanted him to slide into the Lou Williams bench unit ball handler role. He does this for stretches when he’s forced to because of injuries or some other circumstances, but he’s just not wired to do it consistently. Or to be a volume shooter, for that matter. He is a very skilled offensive player but I think just lacks the aggression to maximize those skills.
     
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  8. FrontOfJersey22

    FrontOfJersey22 - Lakers All Star -

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    Seems like a perfectly fine bench player who has given us more throughout his short stint here than Gabe did during his multiple seasons.
    I’m not claiming he should be in the running for 6MOY, but we have had(and still have) countless worse secondary ball handlers who are much, much worse.
     
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  9. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    i fully understand that i sound totally insane as i repeat this, but i really want to sell kennard, smart, and lebron on some hot dog stand stuff this summer. we have full bird rights on luke and lebron, and they could stand to cash in on the back end if they took less this year. just make them 2 year deals with POs. rob's successfully managed this before.
     
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  10. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    Impressive how much he's stepped up in the role that's been thrust upon him when we got knocked out by injuries. Out of all the upcoming FAs, he's been the only one to jump at the opportunity after Luka and Austin got hurt.

    His assist to turnover ratio in these 4 games has been crazy: 31/5




     
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  11. ZenMaster

    ZenMaster - Lakers All Star -

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    People ask me why I think Bron is a narcissistic diva. I don’t know what to tell them.
     
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  12. Toklat

    Toklat - Lakers Starter -

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    I agree with this. You put high IQ players together the chemistry should be immediate. The brain dead can play together for years and never figure it out. Dangerous combo for the playoffs.
     
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  13. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    Didn’t bother me he just stated a fact. Clearly Luke is smart and it’s not all Luke that makes it all work so well between them. Forget the g-dam personality and support him as the baller for better or worse with what happened to Luka and AR. And for what he did for the betterment of the team during that great run.
     
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  14. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    Pau and Kobe!
     
  15. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    yeah, man, that took like 45 seconds to come together. still one of my favorite stretches as a basketball fan: from finding out about the pau trade to losing that finals series. that whole season was so great, with us starting out hot with bynum breaking out to the injury, the pau trade, and the trip to the finals. it's funny to say that one of your favorite seasons was one in which you lost the finals to a hated rival, but that one was so great.

    i digress.
     
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  16. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers All Star -

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    I had a similar level of enjoyment in March, it was so nice to have the team come together this year in the way they did.
     
  17. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    yeah, i definitely enjoyed both the beginning of this season and the stretch before the injuries. not quite like the pau aftermath, but similar.

    i'm hopeful that these playoffs won't be quite as depressing as the kobe achilles playoffs that it resembles right now. if only because at least here we have reason to believe that things can improve.
     

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