If there’s one thing the Lakers need to improve on this year, it’s shooting. LA makes only 34.9% of its 3-point attempts, ranking 21st in the NBA.
“I think he’s one of the best shooters in the NBA,” Redick said. “I’m going to highly encourage him to shoot more and not turn down shots. But I think one of the underrated parts of his game is his ability to move and create second actions and move the basketball.
“You’ve seen that now at a number of his stops where you can initiate the offense through an off-ball movement and he will just make the right play and get the offense going. He’ll be a corner threat and he’ll be an off-ball threat and we’re excited to have him.”
On the season, Kennard is shooting 53.7% from the field, 49.7% from beyond the arc, and 91.4 percent from the free-throw line. Kennard is the only Lakers player currently set to join the 50-40-90 club.
While Kennard’s 3-point shooting is superb, he is notorious for being a bit too selective with his attempts. On the season, he has taken 149 shots from beyond the arc, which is fewer than Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, or Jake LaRavia have taken.
If he’s going to be one of LA’s designated shooters, then he has to shoot. Redick has already called this out, so hopefully that drills the point home, and Kennard is more aggressive here in Los Angeles.
Even with his flaws, Kennard joins the Lakers and immediately gives them a floor-spacing shooter that teams will have to respect.
And it’s not just Redick who is eager to see Kennard implemented into the offense, his teammates are just as excited.
“Obviously, as everybody knows, he’s one of the best 3-point shooters in the league,” Austin Reaves said. “If he has any time and space, playing against them, you gave him time and space, you considered it a bucket. So, just being able to space the floor, a guy that knows how to play basketball, stands for the right things, it’ll be fun. I can’t wait to get to work with him.”
If Kennard embraces an uptick in attempts, he can put up career numbers in LA.
Whether Kennard puts up big numbers or just plays at his established level, his addition to the Lakers will help address their shooting woes, making him a positive.
