The Los Angeles Lakers made an underrated roster move on the final day of the 2025-26 NBA trade deadline.
The Lakers traded Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard, whose 49.7% three-point shooting percentage ranks No. 1 in the NBA. The move was nothing short of brilliant, as it’ll undoubtedly take the Lakers’ three-point shooting/floor spacing to the next level.
However, shortly after ESPN’s Shams Charania announced the deal, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported that the 17-time NBA champions have a big trade problem hours before the 3 p.m. deadline.
“The Lakers' biggest problem: No more second-round picks,” Siegel wrote on X/Twitter. Hard to do any salary-dump moves without them. Have to wonder if Dalton Knecht remains in LA, even if he isn't traded.”
Essentially, with Los Angeles including a second-round pick in their trade for Kennard, it’ll be challenging for them to make additional moves to help them not only move on from another misfit but also land another impactful contributor like Kennard.
On the bright side, there’s no question that the Lakers are far more formidable than they were entering the day. Kennard will make life hectic for sagging defenders nightly, helping the organization feel better about the current state of its roster.
That said, it is a bit of a gut punch that the franchise will face issues bolstering its roster further without any remaining second-round picks.
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