Suns' Luke Kennard Deal Called a 'Steal' in NBA Free Agency Grades
The Phoenix Suns made a move on the first day of NBA free agency on June 30, agreeing to a deal with free agent guard Luke Kennard for two years and $13 million. Recent form (last 5): 0W-0D-5L (LLLLL, most recent first); lost the last 5 games, including a 122-131 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 28, 2026.
What Happened?
Luke Kennard averaged 8.4 points per game with the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers last season. He shot 47.8% from 3-point range and could be learned upon in Phoenix to help fill the void left from the Suns trading Grayson Allen. Kennard's exceptional 3-point shooting and playmaking skills will help fill the void left by the trade of Grayson Allen.
Why It Matters for Phoenix Suns
ESPN's Zach Kram gave the Suns an A for the deal with Kennard. He wrote: "Luke Kennard signed a one-year, $11 million contract as a free agent last offseason, but he's taking a pay cut next season despite leading the NBA in 3-point percentage (48%) and briefly turning into a playoff hero with the Los Angeles Lakers. That can't be construed as anything other than a stellar deal for the Phoenix Suns, who needed more shooting after trading Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, and now add the most accurate 3-point marksman in the NBA." He added: "It's surprising that he couldn't land a higher per-year commitment now."
What Comes Next?
Bleacher Report also handed Phoenix an A for the Kennard move. It wrote: "The lack of cap space around the league is limiting free agents to some shockingly low-value deals. It's almost the inverse of 2016, when the cap spike led to news like Timofey Mozgov landing a four-year, $64 million deal. The latest surprisingly low figure goes to Luke Kennard, who agreed to a two-year deal with the Phoenix Suns for $13 million. In the wake of the Miles Bridges trade that cost Phoenix Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, the Suns were in dire need of some shooting. And Kennard absolutely provides that. He just led the league in three-point percentage at 47.8 (his third time earning that crown) and has a career mark of 44.2 that ranks second all time. Sprinkle in some underrated playmaking, and it's hard to see this deal as anything but a steal for Phoenix."
Social Media Praises Suns Deal with Luke Kennard
Social media also seemed to like the Luke Kennard deal for the Suns in NBA free agency, praising the move in posts on X. The Phoenix Suns' move to sign Luke Kennard has been met with widespread approval from fans and analysts alike, with many hailing the deal as a savvy move by the team's front office. The Suns' decision to sign Kennard will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the team's performance in the upcoming season, and fans are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to see Kennard in action on the court.
