Lakers urged to re-sign $11 million playoff hero, 47.8% shooter to assist Luka Doncic

After concluding his ninth NBA season with a league-leading 47.8% three-point percentage, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard remains one of the most lethal outside shooters in the world.

The 29-year-old veteran was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick prior to the Feb. 5 trade deadline. He'd drastically outperform Vincent throughout the rest of the regular season and provide immense value on the perimeter, averaging 9.0 points and 2.4 assists while knocking down 44.8% of his looks from distance in 32 appearances with his new team.

Unfortunately, the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent will have some decisions to make this summer after another impressive campaign. According to ClutchPoints' Dominik Zawartko, retaining the career 44.2% three-point marksman (No. 2 all-time) will be paramount for a Lakers squad with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves at the helm.

"While LeBron James' future with the team remains uncertain, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will undoubtedly become the focal point of this team," Zawartko wrote Friday.

"With Marcus Smart as the two-guard off the bench and Bronny James as their third-string point guard, the Lakers should look to keep Kennard and his veteran presence in the locker room."

"He showed a strong ability to lead the game flow alongside LeBron James and while this could be a symptom of LeBron making everyone around him better, Kennard still proved he's a great fit within this system thanks to his consistent play."

Kennard certainly proved his worth to Los Angeles' general manager Rob Pelinka throughout the course of their first-round series victory over Kevin Durant's Houston Rockets this postseason.

With both Dončić and Reaves sidelined for the entirety of the first round, Kennard spearheaded a ferocious offensive attack alongside LeBron James and contributed 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 36.3 minutes of action.

His playoff career-high 27-point explosion on a perfect 5-5 night from distance in Game 1 led the undermanned Lakers to a 107-98 win, and another 23-point outing in Game 2 gave his squad an unexpected 2-0 series lead.

Heading into this offseason with a proven ability to handle more on-ball responsibility, Kennard could be looking at a sizable payday from an opposing front office, one that may be willing to meet whatever price-point necessary to land one of the game's all-time great catch-and-shoot threats.

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