The Suns found the perimeter help they were looking for.
Phoenix has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with Luke Kennard, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The contract reportedly includes a player option for the second season, giving the veteran guard some control over what comes next.
Kennard comes in with a reputation that fits the need. He split last season between the Hawks and Lakers, putting up 8.4 points per game while knocking down 47.8 percent of his three-point tries, the best mark of his career. Long term, his shooting has been the headline: he’s connected on 44.2 percent of his career attempts from deep, a number that trails only Steve Kerr among players with at least 250 made 3-pointers.
That kind of spacing matters for Phoenix after moving Grayson Allen in the Miles Bridges trade. Kennard gives the Suns another proven outside threat and fills a clear roster need.
Detroit, meanwhile, is still trying to keep Tobias Harris in the fold, but the path is getting crowded. The Pistons and Harris couldn’t reach a deal during the team’s exclusive negotiating window, and now he’s set to meet with five teams, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
The Spurs have already been mentioned as one possible landing spot, with Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line identifying them previously. Harris spent last season averaging 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds while serving as one of Detroit’s veteran leaders during the franchise’s return to playoff contention.
The Pistons do have Harris’ Early Bird rights, which gives them extra room if they decide to match or top outside offers.
Chicago also made a move to keep a familiar face in place. The Bulls have agreed to a two-year, $17 million contract with Zach Collins, ESPN reported.
Collins was limited to 10 games last season after suffering a fractured wrist and a sprained toe, but when he was on the floor, he gave Chicago useful frontcourt minutes. He averaged 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
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Bulls Fans Already Have One Big Reason To Question This Rebuild
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Bryson Graham has said the goal was to keep roster and salary-cap flexibility intact, arguing there wasnt a player on the board the Bulls viewed as a target. Still, the optics of spending a pick in one deal only to turn around and move the player again so quickly have fueled criticism about the teams asset management and scouting, and it leaves the front office having to defend a process that already looks more complicated than reassuring. [Read more 🡒]