Spurs Stand Pat at the Deadline - But Did They Miss a Golden Opportunity in Luke Kennard?
As the NBA trade deadline came and went, the San Antonio Spurs held firm. No surprise blockbusters, no late-night Woj bombs - just a quiet confidence from the front office that the current roster is on the right track. General Manager Brian Wright made it clear: this season is about development, not detours.
But while the Spurs stayed the course, the Los Angeles Lakers made a move that should have caught San Antonio’s attention - and maybe even drawn a little regret. Veteran sharpshooter Luke Kennard was dealt from the Atlanta Hawks to L.A. for a minimal return: Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick.
That’s it. No first-rounders, no core rotation players.
Just a low-risk, high-reward move to bolster perimeter shooting.
And here’s the thing - that deal had Spurs written all over it.
Kennard’s Fit in San Antonio Was Almost Too Obvious
Let’s start with the numbers. Kennard is no ordinary shooter.
He’s a career 44.2% marksman from beyond the arc - a figure that lands him among the NBA’s elite in long-range efficiency. This season, he’s been even more ridiculous, flirting with the 50% mark from deep.
That’s not just hot shooting - that’s a heater with no off switch.
Now contrast that with the Spurs’ current three-point struggles. San Antonio is hitting just 34.6% of their threes this season, a number that’s weighed down stretches where the offense has gone ice cold. They’ve built a promising young core with size, athleticism, and playmaking - but spacing remains a glaring issue, especially when the second unit takes the floor.
Kennard would’ve slotted in beautifully alongside rookie guard Dylan Harper in those bench minutes. Harper’s ability to pressure the rim and create off the dribble would’ve opened up clean looks for Kennard, who doesn’t need much daylight to let it fly. The two could’ve formed a dynamic inside-out pairing - a classic drive-and-kick duo that might’ve helped stabilize some of those scoring droughts that have plagued the Spurs all year.
The Cost? Practically Nothing
What makes this a tougher pill to swallow for Spurs fans is just how little it would’ve taken to get the deal done. The Lakers gave up a player barely in the rotation and a second-round pick. That’s not mortgaging the future - that’s cleaning out the junk drawer.
And it's not like the Spurs didn’t have pieces to match. Kelly Olynyk, for example, has been out of the rotation and was widely viewed as a likely trade candidate.
He’s the kind of veteran big who could’ve helped a team like Atlanta, and his salary would’ve worked in a deal for Kennard. Add in a second-rounder, and San Antonio could’ve been the team upgrading their perimeter firepower.
Instead, Kennard heads to a Western Conference rival - one the Spurs could very well see in the postseason. That’s where this non-move could sting the most.
Imagine a tight playoff game where the Spurs’ offense stalls, the threes stop falling, and the Lakers send in a flamethrower who’s been doing this for nearly a decade. That’s the kind of moment where front offices earn their stripes - or get second-guessed.
Long-Term Outlook Still Bright - But the Opportunity Was There
To be clear, this isn’t a franchise-altering miss. The Spurs are playing the long game, and with Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and Dylan Harper in the fold, the foundation is solid. There’s no need to rush into trades that don’t align with the bigger vision.
But Kennard wasn’t a panic move. He was a low-cost, high-upside addition who could’ve filled a very specific need right now - without sacrificing any of the future. That’s the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come around often, especially at the deadline.
For a team that’s shown flashes of brilliance but still struggles with consistency, adding a proven shooter like Kennard could’ve made a real difference. Not in five years.
Not in some hypothetical rebuild timeline. But today.
This season.
Instead, he’ll be suiting up in purple and gold, potentially knocking down daggers against the very team that could’ve used him most.
San Antonio’s patience is admirable. But sometimes, the right move is the simple one - especially when it’s staring you in the face.