Sixers Stand Pat as Luke Kennard Heads to Lakers in Low-Cost Deal
With the trade deadline just hours away, the Philadelphia 76ers have yet to make a move beyond their earlier deal involving Jared McCain. And while there's still time on the clock, the Sixers' inactivity is starting to feel like a missed opportunity-especially with sharpshooter Luke Kennard now heading to Los Angeles in a move that could have addressed one of Philly’s most glaring weaknesses.
Let’s be clear: the Sixers need shooting. That’s not an opinion-it’s a statistical reality.
They sit in the bottom half of the league in three-point attempts, makes, and percentage. For a team with playoff aspirations, that’s a problem.
And Kennard? He’s not just a good shooter-he’s one of the best in the game right now.
He’s leading the league with a blistering 49.7% from deep this season. That’s not just elite; that’s game-changing.
What makes this sting a little more for Philly fans is how little it took for the Lakers to land him. Los Angeles sent out Gabe Vincent-who hasn’t been a factor this season-and a future second-round pick.
That’s it. For a guy who could walk into almost any rotation in the league and immediately stretch the floor, that’s a steal.
And it’s not like Kennard comes with long-term baggage. His contract is up at the end of the season, meaning any team acquiring him would’ve had the flexibility to reassess in the summer.
No long-term cap hit. No major risk.
Just pure perimeter value for a team that desperately needs it.
Instead, the Lakers get the boost. Kennard joins a roster that’s been near the bottom of the league in three-point shooting themselves, and now gets to operate alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
That’s a lot of open looks coming his way. And for a team trying to make a late-season push, Kennard’s skill set could be a difference-maker.
Meanwhile, the Sixers are still searching. They’ve been linked to various names over the past few weeks, but time is running out.
If they can’t find a way to add reliable shooting, they risk becoming easier to defend once the postseason rolls around. It’s hard to space the floor when defenders don’t respect your perimeter threats-and that’s a dangerous game to play in today’s NBA.
The pressure’s now squarely on the Sixers’ front office. There’s still a window to make something happen, but as Kennard slips through their fingers for a low-cost price, it’s fair to wonder: did Philly just let a perfect fit walk right past them?
We’ll find out soon enough.