Luke Kennard immediately fills a desperate need for the Lakers

The trade deadline has passed and the Lakers made one trade that filled a desperate need: 3-point shooting. 

The Los Angeles Lakers traded for 29-year-old sharpshooter Luke Kennard, sending Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks.

The move is an immediate upgrade that gives the Lakers a 44% career 3-point shooter alongside Luka Dončić and LeBron James, while also providing more flexibility for head coach JJ Redick with his in-game lineup adjustments.

Kennard becomes the Lakers' best shooter and, more importantly, catch-and-shoot player. He is shooting a career-high 49.7% from 3 in 46 games with the Hawks this season, while averaging 7.9 points a game, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

The Lakers have been one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA this season and teams know that. This result has led to teams using more zone defense against them and daring the Lakers' role players to take open shots. Which is where Kennard's value can shine.

L.A. has finished with under 10 3-pointers in 10 games — 4-6 in those games — and shot under 30% from deep in 13 games — 5-8 in those games. 

The Lakers' ability to be efficient from inside the perimeter has kept them afloat despite the poor play from 3, leading the NBA in field goal percentage (49.8%) with Dončić at the forefront as the league's top scorer (33.4 ppg).

The Lakers are 22nd in the NBA in 3-point percentage (34.9%) and average 12 3-pointers a game, which is 22nd in the league.

Kennard's addition stretches the floor even more for Dončić, who garners double teams every night. His role will likely be off the bench with the second unit with Rui Hachimura, who was the Lakers' most consistent catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter before Kennard's arrival, at 43% from 3.

Kennard is coming off his last game for the Hawks with 12 points on four-of-six shooting from 3 (all shots coming from deep). Which is an example of what he'll give every night: taking most, if not all, his shots from behind the arc. 

His biggest game this season was in a 13-point win over the Warriors, where he made six-of-nine 3s for 22 points. Don't expect that often from Kennard, but expect that type of lethal dose with the open looks soon to come, like 7-Eleven.

He has 74 3-pointers made this season, which puts him second on the team behind Dončić, who leads the Lakers with 149 triples.

The loss of Vincent takes away a solid piece to the Lakers' perimeter defense, but Kennard's addition adds value to the bigger picture of having more options for Dončić and James, who see doubles every night.