The Phoenix Suns have made the Luke Kennard move official, and the timing tells the whole story. One day after announcing the trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Miles Bridges, Phoenix cleared the room it needed and locked in Kennard on the reported two-year, $13 million deal.
Kennard arrives with a reputation that fits the Suns’ needs almost perfectly. Last season, he led the NBA with a 47.8% mark from three and also flashed that same shot-making touch in the playoffs for the Los Angeles Lakers when Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were out injured. Phoenix is betting that skill set can translate immediately.
“Luke’s work ethic and commitment to his craft have made him one of the most efficient three-point shooters in NBA history,” said Suns general manager Brian Gregory in the official press release. “His floor spacing, high basketball IQ and connective playmaking bring another dimension to our offense. We’re excited to welcome Luke and his family to Phoenix.”
Kennard is also stepping into a roster spot shaped by the Bridges trade. Royce O'Neale and Grayson Allen went to Charlotte in that deal, leaving the Suns with a need for shooting help. Now Kennard is positioned to pair with Collin Gillespie, who re-signed on a four-year contract after setting a new franchise record with 232 3-pointers in a season.
The fit is obvious on paper. Kennard, listed at 6-foot-5, is entering his 10th NBA season in 2026-27 and already sits second all time in NBA history with a 44.2% career three-point percentage, trailing only Steve Kerr. He has led the league in three-point percentage in three separate seasons, but Phoenix would like to see more volume from him after he averaged just 3.1 attempts from deep per game last season and 4.3 for his career.
The Suns have already shown they can get more out of shooters and role players under coach Jordan Ott, with Dillon Brooks, Allen, Gillespie, O'Neale, Jordan Goodwin and Jamaree Bouyea all turning in career seasons in his first year. Kennard will try to be the next name on that list, though he’ll need to embrace the freedom Phoenix gives its perimeter players and hold up defensively.
The Suns also announced that Kennard will wear No. 8.
The release added more on what Phoenix is getting: Kennard shot a career-best 53.3% from the field and a league-leading 47.8% from three in 78 games split between the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers last season. He averaged 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 21.6 minutes, posted his first career triple-double on April 5 at Dallas with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists, and played in all 10 Lakers postseason games while averaging 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. His playoff high came on April 18 against Houston, when he scored 27 points.
A nine-year NBA veteran, Kennard owns career averages of 9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 three-pointers in 538 games with 127 starts, along with 46.6% shooting from the field and 44.2% from beyond the arc. He led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage in 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2025-26, making him one of only two players in league history to do it at least three times, alongside Kyle Korver. The 12th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Duke, Kennard now brings that track record to Phoenix.
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