Lakers address major need in trade for $11 million backcourt upgrade to help Luka Doncic

The Los Angeles Lakers have made a move with less than five hours to go until the NBA trade deadline.

General manager Rob Pelinka is adding one of the league's best shooters to the Lakers' mix in the backcourt, giving Luka Doncic another 3-point threat as Los Angels tries to move up the standings in the Western Conference.

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ESPN's Shams Charania was the first to report that the Lakers have traded guard Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Luke Kennard.

Kennard is leading the NBA in 3-point percentage this season at 49.7 percent. Coming off the bench exclusively in Atlanta, Kennard has averaged 7.9 points in 46 games this season. The nine-year veteran is a free agent at the end of the season.

The Los Angeles Lakers are trading Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard, sources tell ESPN.

Vincent didn't live up to expectation with the Lakers after he signed a three-year, $33 million contract with them in 2023. Vincent has played 29 games this season and averaged 4.8 points in 19.3 minutes.

It's a swap of expiring deals that could really benefit the Lakers, who have addressed one of their blemishes on offense. Kennard joins a Lakers team that ranks 23rd in 3-pointers attempted per game and 22nd in 3-point percentage.

At 30-19, Los Angeles is sixth in the Western Conference, but they are just 1.5 games back of the Denver Nuggets in third place.

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