When the LA Clippers traded for Luke Kennard this offseason, Clipper Nation was ecstatic. We trusted that the front office saw something that Kennard could provide that would mesh perfectly with this roster.
Was it his ability to score off the dribble? Was it his ability to knock down shots from deep? Was it that he could add more playmaking? Was it a combination of things? We weren’t sure but we all talked ourselves into it, especially after the team agreed to a four year extension.
Through 23 games, however, there has been nothing that makes fans feel confident about the signing leaving us with a question.
What can the LA Clippers do about Luke Kennard?
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Spoiler alert: I don’t have an answer.
Kennard has shot a career-high from not just three point land but the field as a whole this season. The 46.4 FG% and 44.6 3P% look great on paper until you look at the volume. Kennard is attempting just 3.5 threes per game and 6.5 shots overall. To say he has been timid is an understatement.
Stop me if you’ve seen this before: Luke catches the ball at the wing drives towards the center of the court before stopping slightly inside the foul line. He fakes, pivots, looks for someone to kick the ball to, or turns back towards the basket before ultimately settling and flipping up a shot that hits the front of the rim.
It’s that indecisiveness that’s killing him. When the Clippers traded for Kennard, we envisioned him doing something similar but with more confidence. He needs to be ready to pull that shot right away. He needs to be ready to hit catch-and-shoot opportunities.
When he’s being indecisive and not willing to pull the trigger, what else is he bringing to the court? Sure, he can playmake a tiny bit but any positive there is outweighed by his inability to defend. This leaves the team with a huge question mark.
It seems like they are starting to answer that question, however. On Wednesday’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Luke (who had been starting for the injured Paul George) was moved back to the bench in lieu of Reggie Jackson. Jackson had also been starting but as the point guard while Patrick Beverley missed time. Luke in his bench role scored 0 points in nearly 12 minutes of play, attempting just one shot.
Terance Mann, who is fighting for a spot in the guard rotation as well, ended up getting eight more minutes than Kennard, scoring four points in the process. The points are just icing on the cake, though. Mann finds ways to contribute even when he’s not scoring. He is a high energy player (for better or worse) and leaves his mark on the game when on the floor. That’s something Luke just isn’t doing.
If Luke Kennard is slowly losing time in the rotation, does that mean he’s a trade candidate?
That’s the bigger issue. For this season, there’s no way the Clippers get anything that will make them better by moving Kennard. Sure, he could be tossed in to sweeten a deal but his salary of $3.7 million this season isn’t going to be the key part of any trade. The Clippers would likely be better served to wait until his extension kicks in next season where his $12.7 million salary could be a big part of a deal.
Here lies the issue. If Kennard isn’t playing, what team would want to trade for someone making that much money? Shooting is a premium in the league and his percentages are good but is that enough to convince another franchise to take him? If he’s playing though, are the Clippers really putting the most impactful players on the court? The team is really facing a catch-22.
In an ideal world, this would all resolve itself. Kennard would have something click where he starts playing with aggression and gives Ty Lue reason to keep him in the rotation. That would give the LA Clippers not only a real contributor come playoff time but also a very interesting piece in the offseason should something enticing pop up.
Until then, the team will just have to keep playing him sparingly and trying to figure out the best way to proceed. Hopefully, that is enough.