The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t sit idle as the February 5 trade deadline approached. However, instead of landing a big name, they made a modest trade. They sent Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Luke Kennard.
Not everyone was thrilled with this decision, and now a former three-time NBA All-Star has publicly criticized the move.
Gilbert Arenas Is Not Happy With Lakers’ Luke Kennard Trade
In a recent episode of the Gil’s Arena podcast, Gilbert Arenas made it clear that he was not at all happy that the Lakers acquired Kennard. According to him, not every player should get the chance to represent the Lakers, given the franchise’s long history of superstars and championships.
“When you talk about trades, like trades, like we traded, we got LeBron, we traded, we got Anthony Davis, we traded, and we got Luka. You see, I’m at the restaurant thinking I’m about to get Wagyu.”
“They traded and gave me Tofu and I’m supposed to be happy with it. Man, if you don’t take this s**t back. He should have been cut. I got six people on my team we can cut, I can guarantee you I won’t blink a bit,” Arenas said during the podcast.
Kennard made his entry in the league when the Detroit Pistons selected him 12th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. After his stint in Detroit, Kennard suited up for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies before landing with the Atlanta Hawks as a free agent. He signed a one-year, $11 million contract with Atlanta in July of 2025.
If we look at Kennard’s current stats, we can see why someone like Arenas might not be impressed at first glance.
He is currently averaging 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while playing around 20.5 minutes. These numbers don’t exactly jump off the page. But the thing is that basketball isn’t always about raw counting stats.
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The Lakers have struggled badly from three-point range this season. They rank just 20th in the league, shooting 34.9% from deep. Opponents have taken advantage of this by packing the paint and have dared the Lakers to beat them from outside.
Kennard could actually help change that. He is shooting a career-high 49.7% from beyond the arc. This makes him one of the most efficient three-point shooters in the NBA right now. With Luka Dončić and LeBron James drawing so much defensive attention, Kennard’s shooting could open up the floor.
It remains to be seen how Kennard ultimately performs for the Lakers. While Arenas has made his feelings clear, the real judgment will come on the court.
