{"id":154930,"date":"2026-02-21T17:28:04","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T17:28:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930"},"modified":"2026-02-21T17:28:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T17:28:04","slug":"breaking-the-los-angeles-lakers-look-like-they-struck-gold-with-the-luke-kennard-move-now-that-luka-doncic-is-back-in-action-with-spacing-at-a-premium-and-defenses-collapsing-on-luka-kennard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930","title":{"rendered":"Breaking: The Los Angeles Lakers look like they struck gold with the Luke Kennard move now that Luka Don\u010di\u0107 is back in action. With spacing at a premium and defenses collapsing on Luka, Kennard\u2019s shooting suddenly feels like a masterstroke. Is this the move that quietly shifts the West?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Los Angeles Lakers Nailed the Luke Kennard Trade \u2014 and It\u2019s Elevating Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/h3>\n

\"Lakers'<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Lakers<\/span><\/span> may have made one of the most underrated moves of the season when they acquired Luke Kennard<\/span><\/span>. What initially looked like a complementary depth addition is quickly proving to be a strategic masterstroke \u2014 one that is unlocking the best version of Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n

With the Lakers pushing toward playoff positioning in a loaded Western Conference, spacing and lineup optimization matter more than ever. Kennard\u2019s elite shooting is doing exactly what Los Angeles envisioned: giving Don\u010di\u0107 the kind of offensive ecosystem that once carried him to the 2024 NBA Finals.<\/p>\n

\n

Why the Luke Kennard Trade Is Paying Immediate Dividends<\/h2>\n

Kennard arrived in Los Angeles with a clear skill set \u2014 elite perimeter shooting. He\u2019s hovering near 50 percent from three-point range, placing him among the NBA\u2019s most efficient long-distance shooters.<\/p>\n

For a ball-dominant superstar like Luka Don\u010di\u0107, that gravity is invaluable.<\/p>\n

Defenses can no longer collapse into the paint or aggressively trap without consequences. When opponents are forced to choose between helping off Kennard or allowing Don\u010di\u0107 to operate one-on-one, the Lakers win either way.<\/p>\n

That dynamic was on full display in Friday\u2019s dominant performance against the LA Clippers<\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\n

Luka Don\u010di\u0107 Thrives With Spacing<\/h2>\n

Against the Clippers, Don\u010di\u0107 erupted early, scoring 17 points in the first quarter \u2014 including 15 of the team\u2019s final 18 during a 41-point period. He finished with a 38-point double-double, controlling the tempo and dissecting defensive coverages.<\/p>\n

The difference? Floor spacing.<\/p>\n

Head coach JJ Redick<\/span><\/span> deployed lineups featuring Kennard and Rui Hachimura<\/span><\/span> alongside Don\u010di\u0107. The result was elite offensive flow. Defenders were stretched thin, forced to respect shooters at all times.<\/p>\n

As Lakers insider Jovan Buha pointed out, Don\u010di\u0107 generated a wide-open three simply because the Clippers couldn\u2019t commit to closing out on both Hachimura and Kennard. That kind of offensive geometry is devastating.<\/p>\n

This is the version of Luka fans remember from his Dallas playoff run \u2014 a maestro manipulating space with shooting threats on every wing.<\/p>\n

\n

JJ Redick\u2019s Lineup Adjustments Are Working<\/h2>\n

\"Lakers<\/p>\n

Redick also adjusted the starting lineup with the roster fully healthy. The Lakers opened with:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \n

    Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Marcus Smart<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    LeBron James<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Austin Reaves<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Deandre Ayton<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Though that group had played limited minutes together prior to the matchup, it provides balance on both ends. Smart brings perimeter defense, Ayton anchors the paint, and the trio of Don\u010di\u0107, James, and Reaves handles playmaking duties.<\/p>\n

    That structure allows Kennard to thrive in the second unit \u2014 a role where his shooting can torch opposing bench defenses.<\/p>\n

    Even though Kennard posted a modest stat line (nine points, two rebounds, one assist in 18 minutes), his impact extended beyond the box score. His presence makes Don\u010di\u0107 more efficient, more aggressive, and more difficult to contain.<\/p>\n

    \n

    The Rob Pelinka Factor<\/h2>\n

    Credit also belongs to Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka<\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n

    Pelinka moved on from Gabe Vincent<\/span><\/span> after a disappointing tenure and replaced him with one of the league\u2019s most reliable shooters. The move didn\u2019t require sacrificing major assets, yet it directly enhances the team\u2019s offensive ceiling.<\/p>\n

    In today\u2019s NBA, maximizing your superstar is everything. Pelinka identified a low-cost way to do exactly that.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Why Shooting Around Luka Matters<\/h2>\n

    Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s game is built on reading defenses and punishing mistakes. But that only works when defenders must honor perimeter threats.<\/p>\n

    Without spacing, opponents can:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • \n

      Trap aggressively<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Collapse into the paint<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Force the ball out of Luka\u2019s hands<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      With Kennard on the floor, those strategies become far riskier. Help defense becomes hesitant. Rotations slow down. Passing lanes open.<\/p>\n

      It\u2019s no coincidence that Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s most dominant stretches have come with elite shooting surrounding him.<\/p>\n

      \n

      The Lakers\u2019 Offensive Ceiling Is Rising<\/h2>\n

      \"Luke<\/p>\n

      Friday\u2019s win marked just the 11th game where Don\u010di\u0107, James, and Reaves played together. Kennard has appeared in only five games in purple and gold. There\u2019s still chemistry to build.<\/p>\n

      Yet the early returns are promising.<\/p>\n

      The Lakers\u2019 offense looked fluid, layered, and dynamic. Lineups featuring Don\u010di\u0107, Hachimura, and Kennard have already shown lethal potential. When the second unit can maintain or even extend leads, it reduces the burden on the starters and keeps LeBron fresher for crunch time.<\/p>\n

      That balance could be critical in a deep playoff run.<\/p>\n

      \n

      Potential Playoff Concerns<\/h2>\n

      Of course, no trade is flawless.<\/p>\n

      Kennard\u2019s defense could become a target in postseason matchups. Opponents may try to isolate him or involve him in pick-and-roll actions. The Lakers will need Smart, James, and Ayton to cover for any defensive vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n

      But in today\u2019s league, offensive efficiency often outweighs individual defensive weaknesses \u2014 especially when the shooter in question directly elevates your franchise cornerstone.<\/p>\n

      If Kennard continues stretching defenses at a near-50 percent clip from beyond the arc, the trade will look even more brilliant come playoff time.<\/p>\n

      \n

      Final Verdict: A Win for Los Angeles<\/h2>\n

      The Los Angeles Lakers didn\u2019t just add a shooter \u2014 they added a catalyst.<\/p>\n

      Luke Kennard\u2019s presence is helping unlock the version of Luka Don\u010di\u0107 that carried a team to the NBA Finals. Spacing, lineup balance, and role clarity are finally aligning for Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

      Head coach JJ Redick is still refining rotations, and more adjustments will come. But one thing is clear: this move makes the Lakers more dangerous.<\/p>\n

      Any transaction that makes Luka Don\u010di\u0107 more efficient and harder to guard is a massive victory. The Kennard trade does exactly that \u2014 and it could prove pivotal as the Lakers chase postseason success.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      <\/div>\n
      \n
      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Los Angeles Lakers Nailed the Luke Kennard Trade \u2014 and It\u2019s Elevating Luka Don\u010di\u0107 The Los Angeles Lakers may have made one of the most underrated moves… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":154931,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-154930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\nBreaking: The Los Angeles Lakers look like they struck gold with the Luke Kennard move now that Luka Don\u010di\u0107 is back in action. With spacing at a premium and defenses collapsing on Luka, Kennard\u2019s shooting suddenly feels like a masterstroke. Is this the move that quietly shifts the West? - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Breaking: The Los Angeles Lakers look like they struck gold with the Luke Kennard move now that Luka Don\u010di\u0107 is back in action. With spacing at a premium and defenses collapsing on Luka, Kennard\u2019s shooting suddenly feels like a masterstroke. Is this the move that quietly shifts the West? - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Los Angeles Lakers Nailed the Luke Kennard Trade \u2014 and It\u2019s Elevating Luka Don\u010di\u0107 The Los Angeles Lakers may have made one of the most underrated moves...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-21T17:28:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-44.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"768\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"512\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MsThao\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MsThao\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930\",\"name\":\"Breaking: The Los Angeles Lakers look like they struck gold with the Luke Kennard move now that Luka Don\u010di\u0107 is back in action. With spacing at a premium and defenses collapsing on Luka, Kennard\u2019s shooting suddenly feels like a masterstroke. Is this the move that quietly shifts the West? - NEWS USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-44.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-21T17:28:04+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-21T17:28:04+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/73dec88841ffe3be696a72d46df40731\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-44.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-44.png\",\"width\":768,\"height\":512},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Breaking: The Los Angeles Lakers look like they struck gold with the Luke Kennard move now that Luka Don\u010di\u0107 is back in action. With spacing at a premium and defenses collapsing on Luka, Kennard\u2019s shooting suddenly feels like a masterstroke. Is this the move that quietly shifts the West?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"NEWS USA\",\"description\":\"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/73dec88841ffe3be696a72d46df40731\",\"name\":\"MsThao\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/23335ad696d6700b03ba8d09f84a67eadb58cde164fc044a22845ec8be19771f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/23335ad696d6700b03ba8d09f84a67eadb58cde164fc044a22845ec8be19771f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"MsThao\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=3\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Breaking: The Los Angeles Lakers look like they struck gold with the Luke Kennard move now that Luka Don\u010di\u0107 is back in action. With spacing at a premium and defenses collapsing on Luka, Kennard\u2019s shooting suddenly feels like a masterstroke. Is this the move that quietly shifts the West? - NEWS USA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Breaking: The Los Angeles Lakers look like they struck gold with the Luke Kennard move now that Luka Don\u010di\u0107 is back in action. With spacing at a premium and defenses collapsing on Luka, Kennard\u2019s shooting suddenly feels like a masterstroke. Is this the move that quietly shifts the West? - NEWS USA","og_description":"Los Angeles Lakers Nailed the Luke Kennard Trade \u2014 and It\u2019s Elevating Luka Don\u010di\u0107 The Los Angeles Lakers may have made one of the most underrated moves...","og_url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930","og_site_name":"NEWS USA","article_published_time":"2026-02-21T17:28:04+00:00","og_image":[{"width":768,"height":512,"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-44.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"MsThao","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"MsThao","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930","name":"Breaking: The Los Angeles Lakers look like they struck gold with the Luke Kennard move now that Luka Don\u010di\u0107 is back in action. With spacing at a premium and defenses collapsing on Luka, Kennard\u2019s shooting suddenly feels like a masterstroke. Is this the move that quietly shifts the West? - NEWS USA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-44.png","datePublished":"2026-02-21T17:28:04+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-21T17:28:04+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/73dec88841ffe3be696a72d46df40731"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-44.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-44.png","width":768,"height":512},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=154930#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Breaking: The Los Angeles Lakers look like they struck gold with the Luke Kennard move now that Luka Don\u010di\u0107 is back in action. With spacing at a premium and defenses collapsing on Luka, Kennard\u2019s shooting suddenly feels like a masterstroke. Is this the move that quietly shifts the West?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/","name":"NEWS USA","description":"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/73dec88841ffe3be696a72d46df40731","name":"MsThao","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/23335ad696d6700b03ba8d09f84a67eadb58cde164fc044a22845ec8be19771f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/23335ad696d6700b03ba8d09f84a67eadb58cde164fc044a22845ec8be19771f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"MsThao"},"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=3"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=154930"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154930\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":154932,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154930\/revisions\/154932"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/154931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=154930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=154930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=154930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}