Suns sign Luke Kennard.

[Yuma]

The second year player option doesn’t sit well with me.

That's a way the Suns make it attractive for short contract free agents. They are giving Kennard a chance to get a whole season with us, with the understood agreement he's going to get minutes. Then if he has a good year he opts out and gets money elsewhere. If he likes it here, injury, etc, he can reset with us one more year. Players and agents prefer the flexibility.

The knock on Kennard from a podcast I listened to, is he's not a volume three point shooter. Kennard tends to average a little more than 3 threes a game. Compared to Allen who was shooting on average 6 threes a game for us. Kennard is going to have to double his output with us to take over that Allen shooting role.

 

[SirStefan32]

This makes the Bridges trade a little bit better. Realistically, when you trade Royce and Allen, this is about the best way you can replace their shooting. Still not sold on the whole Bridges idea, but this makes it a little better.

 

[Adrian]

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[Proximo]

Yes.

Well, I very much disagree.

Goodwin is our defensive spark, he can't be benched. Kennard is a defensive liability.

 

[Proximo]

I'll give you 13 million reasons why he might get a little run.

Same money as Goodwin.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I don't think he lacked a green light in LA. On a per minute basis, he took less threes than Bronny James, which I cannot imagine was part of the design.

Maybe he was surrounded by ball hogs (something we don't lack) or perhaps he's kinda like... Channing Frye. A really good outside shooter who gets gun shy.

Either way. To the crowd who thinks this is an easy Allen replacement and someone who will get more minutes than Goodwin... I think you're way off.

I like the signing. We need a reliable deep threat, rotation guy to keep teams honest and that "Steve Kerr" type at the end of a game is always great, but he's back end of the rotation player. Goodwin, Gillespe... they are both significantly better players and will feature a lot more.

Also, Goodwin is the definition of what this team is trying to do. He was huge for us, him getting hurt late in the year sucked, that dude was a pivotal player. I think he'd be a solid rotation player on any team in the NBA.

It's not just about a "green light", but a team philosophy that heavily encourages their shooters to shoot. Under this coaching staff Grayson shot easily the most of his career, Collin shot over 7 per game and all in all we had 5 players taking more than 6 per game. This team is clearly telling its shooters to let it fly whenever they have a decent look.

 

[Chaplin]

Well, I very much disagree.

Goodwin is our defensive spark, he can't be benched. Kennard is a defensive liability.

Kennard will certainly be hidden in defensive lineups but could be instant offense since our defensive players aren't exactly scoring dynamos.

Doesn't make Kennard useless.

 

[95pro]

The second year player option doesn’t sit well with me.

Are you afraid he will leave us early or do you prefer team option?

That's a way the Suns make it attractive for short contract free agents. They are giving Kennard a chance to get a whole season with us, with the understood agreement he's going to get minutes. Then if he has a good year he opts out and gets money elsewhere. If he likes it here, injury, etc, he can reset with us one more year. Players and agents prefer the flexibility.

The knock on Kennard from a podcast I listened to, is he's not a volume three point shooter. Kennard tends to average a little more than 3 threes a game. Compared to Allen who was shooting on average 6 threes a game for us. Kennard is going to have to double his output with us to take over that Allen shooting role.

Yeah I wish it was a team option or no option. He has commanded more, we are pretty much paying half of what he's been making the last five years. If he shoots great again, he'll opt out for more money from someone else, then will have to pay him more.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't think he lacked a green light in LA. On a per minute basis, he took less threes than Bronny James, which I cannot imagine was part of the design.

Maybe he was surrounded by ball hogs (something we don't lack) or perhaps he's kinda like... Channing Frye. A really good outside shooter who gets gun shy.

Either way. To the crowd who thinks this is an easy Allen replacement and someone who will get more minutes than Goodwin... I think you're way off.

I like the signing. We need a reliable deep threat, rotation guy to keep teams honest and that "Steve Kerr" type at the end of a game is always great, but he's back end of the rotation player. Goodwin, Gillespe... they are both significantly better players and will feature a lot more.

Also, Goodwin is the definition of what this team is trying to do. He was huge for us, him getting hurt late in the year sucked, that dude was a pivotal player. I think he'd be a solid rotation player on any team in the NBA.

Ott is going to look at the line up he has on the floor and realize he needs shooting. He will send Kennard in the game. I love Goodwin and I love his all around game. But Kennard is going to get a lot of minutes.

One caveat. If he refuses to put the ball up more often, then he will sit. But Ott is going to tell him that.

 

[Mainstreet]

The second year player option doesn’t sit well with me.

I don't mind. If he plays well, he wants a bigger paycheck. Besides, Koby Brea might be ready by then.

 

[Adrian]

I like it.

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

btw - idk if i've mentioned this but i love how all the players have their own forever ongoing threads here - haven't seen that on other sites

 

[Germz249]

Hey, what happened to the Waffle House news scoops?

Me and Matt went back and forth. Once I was able to lock this in, I made the trade with CHL.

Be on the look out for more moves!

 

[moosehead]

Suns agree to $13 million, 2-year deal with veteran guard Luke Kennard, AP source says

The Phoenix Suns have agreed to a $13 million, two-year deal with veteran guard Luke Kennard, a person with knowledge of the deal said on Tuesday night.

www.abc15.com

The Phoenix Suns have agreed to a $13 million, two-year deal with veteran guard Luke Kennard, a person with knowledge of the deal said on Tuesday night.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal — which includes a player option for the second season — cannot be signed yet.

 

[oaken1]

Yeah I wish it was a team option or no option. He has commanded more, we are pretty much paying half of what he's been making the last five years. If he shoots great again, he'll opt out for more money from someone else, then will have to pay him more.

or if he plays well, he opts out to bring the team back to the table here

 

[Adrian]

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[JCSunsfan]

He’s a bit better as a defender than I thought. He works hard and is smart. Switches well.

 

[Hoop Head]

I'm curious to see how he does because I believe he'll replace what Grayson did 90% of the time. I grew tired of those overselling Grayson because he led the league in 3pt % for a season when Kennard has done that multiple times.

 

[Superbone]

I'm curious to see how he does because I believe he'll replace what Grayson did 90% of the time. I grew tired of those overselling Grayson because he led the league in 3pt % for a season when Kennard has done that multiple times.

However, Grayson was one of our top drivers and distributors as well. Allen's biggest problem was availability.

 

[Hoop Head]

However, Grayson was one of our top drivers and distributors as well.

Which Grayson? He seemed to drive less and less the more he got banged up. He was a decent and willing passer but I think that was often overrated also, I've seen some refer to him as a backup PG. Kennard is more one dimensional than Grayson but I don't think we'll see a big drop in production.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm curious to see how he does because I believe he'll replace what Grayson did 90% of the time. I grew tired of those overselling Grayson because he led the league in 3pt % for a season when Kennard has done that multiple times.

Grayson was not oversold. He was a very good player, not only as a shooter, but also as a ball-handler, passer, and defender. He was just injured a lot.

 

[Hoop Head]

Grayson was not oversold. He was a very good player, not only as a shooter, but also as a ball-handler, passer, and defender. He was just injured a lot.

He was a poor defender. I won't knock his shooting or his ball handling but I still believe he was overrated. We'll see this year how much of his production Kennard replaces. I'd be surprised if Luke doesn't give us 75% or more of what Grayson did.

 

[Yuma]

I don't mind. If he plays well, he wants a bigger paycheck. Besides, Koby Brea might be ready by then.

There's also the aspect you bring this guy in to teach Koby how to be a three point shooter.

Another way to look at the player option, is you want to pay a guy. If Kennard is wildy successful with Phoenix, you want that problem. Last thing you want is he plays less than the $6 million range on the court, you really hate to see him come into games, and he picks up that option because his value has dropped.

 

[Adrian]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
·
3h
Contract details for Luke Kennard’s two-year deal with the Suns:

2026-27: $6.4 million
2027-28: $6.7 million (player option)

Kennard has shot a league-best 46.4% on threes over the past four seasons

 

[JCSunsfan]

Evan Sidery
@esidery
·
3h
Contract details for Luke Kennard’s two-year deal with the Suns:

2026-27: $6.4 million
2027-28: $6.7 million (player option)

Kennard has shot a league-best 46.4% on threes over the past four seasons

Best shooter we could have gotten.