Full Breakdown
Luke Kennard Signs Two-Year, $13 Million Deal with Phoenix Suns
7/1/2026, 1:48:37 PM
Deal Details and Immediate Context
Luke Kennard, a 30-year-old guard, has agreed to a two-year contract worth $13 million with the Phoenix Suns, with a player option for the second season. The agreement was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and confirmed by the Associated Press. Kennard joins Phoenix after finishing the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played under a one-year, $11 million contract.
Background: Suns’ Offseason Moves and Shooting Need
Phoenix entered free agency after trading perimeter scorers Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale to the Charlotte Hornets for forward Miles Bridges. The trade left the Suns with a pronounced gap in three-point shooting, as Allen and O’Neale combined for 371 made threes the prior season. The front office subsequently targeted a proven shooter to restore floor-spacing, culminating in Kennard’s signing.
Key Figures: Kennard and the Suns Front Office
- Luke Kennard – Former Detroit Pistons first-round pick (12th overall, 2017), previously with the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Lakers.
- Brian Gregory – Phoenix Suns general manager, who oversaw the Miles Bridges acquisition and the Kennard signing.
- Jordan Ott – Suns head coach, expected to integrate Kennard into a bench-role rotation alongside Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and the newly acquired Bridges.
Statistical Profile: Kennard’s Shooting Prowess
- Led the NBA in three-point percentage (47.8 %) during the 2025-26 season.
- Career three-point shooting: 44.2 % (per NBA.com).
- Averaged 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game with the Lakers (BrightSide of the Sun).
- In 32 games with Los Angeles, posted 9.0 points on 52.7 % shooting (44.8 % from three) (Bleacher Report).
Official Statements & Responses
- ESPN noted that Kennard “agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with a player option for the second year.”
- The Associated Press confirmed the signing, emphasizing the Suns’ intent to “add a veteran sharpshooter to fill the role vacated by Grayson Allen.”
- BrightSide of the Sun reported that the contract “pushes the Suns back over the first apron, with projected payroll at approximately $214.9 million.”
Criticism & Opposition
Bleacher Report cautioned that “the defensive limitations of Bridges and Kennard could lower their ceiling on that end.” Analysts also described Kennard as “one-dimensional” and “a pure shooter,” noting limited defensive impact and modest playmaking ability.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Kennard’s scoring average for the 2025-26 season: BrightSide of the Sun lists 8.4 points per game, while Bleacher Report records 9.0 points per game. No other major statistical discrepancies appear in the available reports.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Free agent sharpshooter Luke Kennard has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Phoenix Suns, with a player option for the second season, sources tell ESPN.” — Shams Charania, ESPN reporter
- “The Suns have acquired another shooter.” — ESPN
- “Would be the PERFECT…” — John Gambadoro, Arizona Sports radio host
- “The Suns are signing veteran sharpshooter Luke Kennard to a two-year, $13 million contract.” — BrightSide of the Sun, staff writer
What’s Next: Roster Outlook and Upcoming Season
With Kennard’s player-option year secured, Phoenix completes a 15-man roster that includes newly added Miles Bridges and retains core pieces Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks. The team will aim to improve its offensive efficiency while managing a salary-cap situation just above the first apron. Integration of Kennard’s elite three-point shooting will be a focal point of preseason preparation as the Suns target a return to the playoffs and a potential 50-win season.
