The Los Angeles Lakers are forced to retool their roster this offseason after suffering a second-round exit at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder. One player in particular that the Portland Trail Blazers should be targeting in free agency is sharpshooter Luke Kennard.
Before the series against the Thunder, it was rumored that the Lakers had interest in retaining Kennard (subscription required). But as Tyler Watts of Lake Show Life recently suggested, Kennard's poor performance against the Thunder could have the Lakers' front office second-guessing that decision.
"The Los Angeles Lakers have to let Luke Kennard walk in free agency this summer after this series. OKC showed exactly why he has never played 20-plus minutes per game on a team that reached the conference finals. There are just too many weaknesses to exploit, and the Lakers certainly can’t cover for them."
Blazers could cover for Luke Kennard's defensive limitations
In the second round sweep, Kennard averaged 10.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He actually was quite efficient, shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from beyond the arc. Still, as Watts notes, the fact that Kennard shot this well and the Lakers still struggled with him on the court due to his defensive limitations could signal that it's time for Los Angeles to find a better two-way fit.
The lack of a two-way impact from Kennard throughout the postseason could bode well for Portland. The Lakers can't afford to play Kennard's extended minutes as their key players are all offensive-minded. Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and a 41-year-old LeBron James aren't coming to save him. That's a problem that gets exposed, especially in the playoffs. You have to go through the Western Conference gauntlet, including the Thunder's stars, who are good at exploiting these mismatches.
A team like the Blazers with an established defensive identity would be much better equipped to compensate for Kennard's weaknesses. They have a true defensive anchor in Donovan Clingan, and too many strong wing help defenders to name.
Offensively, the Blazers have made it clear that adding shooting is their top offseason priority. Kennard is as reliable a floor spacer as it gets, even historically good as a career 44.2 percent three-point shooter. Adding him to the mix would give Portland a much better roster balance and potentially open up more minutes for Kennard, as he can find the defensive coverage he desperately needs.
The fit is a no-brainer, but now it comes down to the financials. If the Lakers do let Kennard walk, the Blazers could use their $15 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception to bring him on board. That would be a $4 million raise from what he's making this season, but Portland shouldn't be afraid to overpay a bit for shooting. It's become a premium in the NBA, and something they desperately need to find this offseason if they want a shot at a deep playoff run.
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