The Phoenix Suns addressed their outside shooting needs in the aftermath of trading away both Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale by signing Los Angeles Lakers free agent guard Luke Kennard to a two-year, $13 million deal.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the deal includes a player option for the second year.
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. pic.twitter.com/rXhDalEdhF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026
Kennard finished the 2025-26 season as the best 3-point shooter in the sport in terms of percentage, knocking down a ridiculous 47.8 percent of his triples.
Suns replenish outside shooting with Luke Kennard signing
Over the weekend, the Suns opted to trade veteran sharpshooters Allen and O’Neale to the Charlotte Hornets (along with an unprotected 2033 first-round pick) for Miles Bridges.
The move was not met favorably for the Phoenix side of things, and among the concerns it created was a lack of spacing by shipping away two great outside shooters for a historically poor one.
But Suns GM Brian Gregory wasted little time addressing that departed strength by adding Kennard.
He literally could not have signed a better 3-point shooter from this (or really any) free agent crop. And while it will still be tough to replace the collective outside shooting chops of both Allen and O’Neale, Kennard will no doubt be encouraged to let it fly in Jordan Ott’s rotations.
Kennard can slot in immediately to Allen’s prior role to help spread the floor from distance, something this team sorely needed after the recent trade.
A fellow Duke Blue Devil product, Kennard possesses a high basketball IQ and is also a serviceable defender. He recorded 1.4 defensive win shares last season split between the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers.
Kennard fits extremely well and can even give the Suns another option in crunch time as he’s an elite free-throw shooter (91.3 percent last season and 88.5 percent for his career).
There was speculation around the league he’d perhaps be priced out of The Valley, but the Suns were able to get a very reasonable two-year $13 million deal done. It’s also not a bad contract for Kennard, who can opt out after the season if he wants to pursue a more lucrative offer next summer.
Now, Phoenix Suns fans will have to wait and see if Collin Gillespie’s franchise record for 3-point makes in a season is in any danger. Watching those two guards let it fly from long range will be fun to watch in 2026-27.
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