With how dominant Luke Kennard has been for the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs, fans of the LA Clippers might be wondering how Lawrence Frank can get him back. Turns out, there is a way, and there’s a good chance it happens.
Kennard is playing so well that, in the summer as an unrestricted free agent, he may be worth a number the Lakers will be uncomfortable paying. That sounds like music to the Clippers’ ears, as they can fulfill the ideal reunion every fan is currently dreaming of.
Kennard to LA makes even more sense when you factor in how predictive he would be next to Darius Garland. That’s a lethal combo for defenses to have to guard, as Garland is an elite playmaker, and both can shoot the lights out of the Intuit Dome.
The Clippers should prepare themselves to make Kennard an offer
Luke Kennard may be posting 25.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in the playoffs, shooting 65.4% from the field and an insane 72.7% from beyond the arc, but he was also exceptional for the Los Angeles Lakers during the regular season.
Through 32 games after the trade deadline, Kennard averaged 9.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, on a true-shooting percentage of 66.1%. These are crazy-good numbers for a role player.
That said, when free agency begins, the Clippers should have a dollar figure and a fair term ready for the top-notch sharpshooter.
For reference, Kennard was paid $11 million for the 2025-26 season. He was on track to receive a similar number, but that’s certainly changed following the Lakers’ consecutive home wins versus the Houston Rockets.
So, to prepare, the Clippers should go through with the expected and decline the team options of Brook Lopez, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Nicolas Batum. The Clippers clearly won’t need them next season, each for their own reasons, and this series of actions will help with the money on the books.
Additionally, the Clippers could also save a few extra million by negotiating reasonable deals with John Collins and Bennedict Mathurin. They are LA’s top two free agents, and if Lawrence Frank can get them to re-sign on a discount, the opportunity to give Kennard the promotion he deserves will be right there.
The Clippers just need to make sure all of the pieces of the puzzle fall in place, and the reunion everyone wants could surely happen before we know it.
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