The Phoenix Suns continue to build out their roster. They have signed veteran guard Luke Kennard to a two-year, $13 million contract with a player option for the second season.
How We Got Here:
Kennard started off with the Atlanta Hawks, where he was averaging 7.9 points on 53.8% from the field and 49.7% from three coming off the bench. However, the Hawks traded him to the Lakers at the deadline. He would finish the season averaging 8.4 points per game while shooting 53.3% from the field and a league-leading 47.8% from three. He was vital for them in the playoffs, filling in for their injured stars.
The Suns, on the other hand, are coming off a surprising season. Many people believed that they would be fighting for a top lottery pick. However, they were much more competitive over the course of the season and were able to make it to the first round of the playoffs.
After their surprising season, the Suns have made a number of moves during free agency. They traded for Miles Bridges to bring in a second scoring option next to Devin Booker. That deal sent Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale to the Hornets, so they are bringing in Kennard to replace their shooting. On top of that, they also resigned Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin.
His Impact:
He will be able to give head coach Jordan Ott lineup flexibility with his versatility as both a catch-and-shoot specialist and secondary ball-handler. On top of that, he has shown the ability to thrive playing alongside high-usage stars without needing the ball in his hands, which is ideal playing alongside Booker and Bridges.
When it comes to the money aspect of this deal, it is a low-stakes deal. The Suns didn’t invest any long-term money, meaning that they can move off of it if necessary. If things work out, then they get one of the best shooters in the league for essentially peanut change.
It’ll be interesting to see what the Suns look like next season. They have made a lot of moves during free agency, but now they will have to put everything together. They have the talent to be a competitive team in the Western Conference, but we have seen that fail in the past.
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