At the trade deadline in 2023, the LA Clippers' defense was fragile, which led to a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies involving Luke Kennard. He was prized, as one of the greatest three-point shooters in franchise history, yet 128 games with the Grizzlies and 26 with the Atlanta Hawks proved Lawrence Frank was never in the wrong.
Kennard has consistently been one of the NBA’s worst defensive guards over the last nine seasons. He is not quick with his feet, struggles to recover, cannot block shots, and has an under-average wingspan that is a quarter of an inch shorter than his height.
Thus, with the strength as an elite three-point shooter and countless defensive flaws, Kennard will be bouncing around the league. He is not a long-term piece, though the Clippers once viewed him as one before his trade.
Luke Kennard’s three-point shooting is part of why the Clippers were proven right
Why is the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, Quin Snyder, only playing a 43.9% three-point shooter in Luke Kennard for just 20.5 minutes? It should be higher and partially inflated because the backcourt has been short most of the season with Trae Young out.
However, Snyder’s reasoning aside from atrocious defense is evident, as Kennard’s release point is simply too low. He shoots in a motion that is easy for defenses to block, forcing him into hesitancy that should not be happening.
By the time Kennard catches the ball and makes a quick evaluation on where the nearest defender is, an open look turns into a contest. His eyes are not usually focused on the rim, causing an outlier in the stats.
In fact, Kennard is only attempting 3.2 shots from beyond the arc this season. This is the fifth-lowest shot attempts (minimum 75) among players on a 40% clip this season, backing up the idea that he takes what he can get only when he is completely wide open.
Therefore, Kennard’s season averages of 7.2 points on excellent efficiency should be considered with a large grain of salt; he is not as perfect as he seems on paper.
That said, the Clippers did not receive much in the three-team trade Kennard was part of, but they were still smart to trade him. His value has taken a toll ever since, and he is having a sub-par first season with the Hawks on a double-digit million-dollar deal.