Luke Kennard was a great free-agent pickup by the Phoenix Suns this summer, but that doesn't mean his elite 3-point ability will translate to his new team right away. The 30-year-old is joining the Suns at a time when their projected starting five has clear spacing issues. The combination of Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, and Mark Williams boasts plenty of offensive firepower but lacks an elite 3-point shooter.
Kennard will be forced to operate in less space than he is used to
It will be on Kennard to come in (potentially as the sixth man) and fix the lack of spacing for these 20 point a night scorers to operate in. Last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, he had the likes of Luka Doncic and LeBron James to make his life easier, given all of the attention they commanded and how well they passed the ball. That will not be the case in The Valley.
This was once an issue for departed Sun Grayson Allen, but he at least had the benefit of often sharing the court with another sniper in Royce O'Neale, while also boasting more playmaking ability than Kennard, to create space for himself.
Opponents already know that Kennard will camp out on the 3-point line and can plan accordingly. Last season, he led the entire NBA in attempts made from deep at a scorching 47.8 percent, and there is no way he will be able to replicate that once again.
The Suns can take encouragement from the fact that that number was somehow even higher during the first portion of the campaign, when Kennard was with the Atlanta Hawks and converted an absurd 49.7 percent of his 3.2 attempts nightly.
Suns must find teammates who can make Kennard's life easier
One obvious solution to ensure Kennard is given the space needed to make opponents pay is to play him alongside drivers and true point guards. Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin are two names that make sense, although doing so means one of Booker or Jalen Green will likely not be out there as well.
Kennard is not a good defender, while Gillespie can get picked on because of his size, despite being incredibly willing in this area. Goodwin is among the best defenders this roster has, but he can't score consistently in the way many of his teammates can.
This is a dilemma for Coach Jordan Ott to figure out as training camp nears, although having one of the best 3-point shooters in the league on your roster and trying to get the best out of them is a problem plenty of other organizations surely wish they had.
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