The Los Angeles Lakers made a massive splash at last year's trade deadline, acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster move that would change the future for the Lakers. However, they didn't make anything nearly as flashy at this year's deadline.

Their lone transaction was sending Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for sharpshooter Luke Kennard. Shooting 49.7% from three this season with the Hawks, Kennard made his season debut for the Lakers on Saturday at home against the Golden State Warriors.

Coming off the bench in his debut, Kennard logged 26 minutes, scoring 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field, adding two rebounds, two assists, and a steal in their 105-99 win over the Warriors. In just his first game for the Lakers, he might have a chance at being this team's best bench player going forward this season.

After the game, LeBron James was asked about the team's new acquisition, pointing out what he's seen from him in early impressions.

"He's a really good basketball player...his playmaking ability as well, him being able to crack the defense when they run him off the line...," James said.

Kennard started to show his playmaking abilities more during his last season with the Memphis Grizzlies, especially with Ja Morant sidelined at times last year. In 11 starts in the 2024-25 season, Kennard averaged 4.5 assists per game, meaning he could get put into the primary playmaker role for the Lakers off the bench.

"He's gonna help us have another ball handler for sure, but then how elite his shooting is is going to help us as well, tremendously," James added.

The Lakers have struggled shooting the ball this season, shooting just 35%, compared to the league-leading Denver Nuggets, who are at 39.6%. Kennard won't be able to fix these issues himself, but he'll certainly play a factor in it, along with Austin Reaves finally coming back from injury.

Once the Lakers are at full health, their starting lineup will likely be Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Jake LaRavia, LeBron James, and Deandre Ayton. In that case, the bench unit will likely now feature Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, Jaxson Hayes, and potentially Jarred Vanderbilt as well.

While Vanderbilt has been in and out of the rotation this season, he's coming off one of his best games of the season against the Warriors, so it might be too soon to send him back to the bench.

The Lakers return to action on Monday at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder.