Luke Kennard has agreed to a two-year, $13MM deal with the Suns, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets. The second year includes a player option.
The Suns were reportedly looking at a number of veteran wings who could provide shooting. Kennard was one of their primary targets with the Lakers also reportedly interested in retaining him.
Kennard finished the season with Los Angeles after being dealt by Atlanta. He appeared in a total of 78 games, averaging 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest. His shooting numbers were eye-popping for a three-point specialist — 53.3% overall from the field and a career-best 47.8% beyond the arc.
Kennard’s career 44.2% three-point shooting ranks second all-time to Golden State coach Steve Kerr (45.4%) for players with at least 250 made threes. He has led the league in three-point percentage in three separate seasons.
According to cap expert Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Twitter link), Kennard could fit into the taxpayer mid-level exception if his number comes in a little below what Charania reported — a two-year deal using the taxpayer MLE would max out at $12.4MM. They could utilize the non-taxpayer mid-level if they get under the first apron, but that would require additional roster moves.
The Suns shot 36.1% on threes last season, placing them outside the top 10 in the league. With Grayson Allen heading to Charlotte, the Suns needed another perimeter shooter and landed one of the best. Phoenix will be Kennard’s sixth team in a career that began with Detroit in 2017.
Kennard, 30, projects to back up Jalen Green and Devin Booker with his new team.
