3 best Luke Kennard free agent destinations after Lakers playoff breakout

Even though the Los Angeles Lakers' season ended early in the 2026 NBA Playoffs at the hands of Oklahoma City, the Lakers' overall season could be seen as a success given the circumstances. They were without their franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic for all of the postseason, missing Austin Reaves for a solid portion as well. This gave way for a player like Luke Kennard, who was added this season by Los Angeles, to prove his worth heading into the free agency market this offseason.Kennard started just six games for the Lakers this season, but his contributions came at the most crucial time as the Lakers battled the Houston Rockets during their First Round playoffs series. Kennard scored a game-high 27 points in Game 1 and followed it up with 23 points in Game 2, hitting 8-11 on his three-point attempts and leading the Lakers to a 2-0 lead.Of course, teams will take notice of Kennard as the 11-year veteran hits free agency, fulfilling a three-point need off the bench for wherever he may land. While the Lakers may make the most sense at the moment, we'll take a look at three additional teams that could greatly benefit from adding Kennard to their roster.Best Luke Kennard Free Agency DestinationsTroy Taormina-Imagn ImagesRe-signing with the Los Angeles LakersThis may seem like the most obvious option right off the bat as the Lakers saw significant contributions from Kennard during the playoffs. While LeBron James' future with the team remains uncertain, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will undoubtedly become the focal point of this team. With Marcus Smart as the two-guard off the bench and Bronny James as their third-string point guard, the Lakers should look to keep Kennard and his veteran presence in the locker room.For Kennard, it won't mean a starting spot, but he can stand to see valuable minutes whenever Doncic or Reaves hit the bench. He showed a strong ability to lead the game flow alongside LeBron James and while this could be a symptom of LeBron making everyone around him better, Kennard still proved he's a great fit within this system thanks to his consistent play.Becoming the Brooklyn Nets' three-point threatTheres no question that the Brooklyn Nets have a ton of work to do in the next few seasons if they want to at all remain competitive. Coming off a 20-62 season, the Nets ranked last in the NBA in three-point percentage (34.0%) despite ranking 11th league-wide in three-pointers attempted. Michael Porter Jr. and Malachi Smith served as their best three-point shooters this season, but it really wasn't something the Nets built an identity upon when it came to offensive production.This last regular season, Kennard averaged his second-best mark from three of his career at 47.8%, shooting as high as 49.7% in 46 games for the Atlanta Hawks. He's still capable of boosting any team's production from three and this aspect of his game could only get better as he gains more experience in the NBA. Kennard would also be joining the Brooklyn Nets as their longest-tenured NBA player, a huge benefit to a locker room full of young players still finding an identity in the league.Reunion with the Detroit PistonsDavid Reginek-Imagn ImagesKennard was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2017 and spent three seasons with the franchise finding his legs. To this day, his third and final season with Detroit saw his most starts in a season (25), despite only playing 28 games and averaging 32.8 minutes. He's already familiar with the franchise and the 2026 version of the Pistons is certainly more of a contender than the team he joined in 2017.The Pistons are currently in a battle against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, losing three-straight games after being out-scored in the second half. The Pistons have the second-lowest three-point percentage (35.6%) out of the remaining playoffs teams and could certainly use Kennard in a new capacity given the evolution over his career. It would also be a step in the right direction bolstering this roster and maximizing on their championship window.Key depth with the Chicago BullsThe Chicago Bulls secured the fourth overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, hopeful to add another franchise cornerstone through a relatively deep draft. The Bulls haven't been to the NBA Playoffs since 2021 and they haven't advance past the First Round since 2015. They've cycled through a number of players leading their team, but none with sustained success on a franchise typically known for their success.It's clear the Bulls are looking to build around Josh Giddey and their most recent project Matas Buzelis is shaping up to be a solid selection. If the Bulls can add an elite talent through the draft, they should be able to add to their roster through free agency and change the identity of this team. Luke Kennard would be a great addition in providing sustained scoring off the bench and even having an opportunity to start at two-guard over Tre Jones.Even though the Los Angeles Lakers' season ended early in the 2026 NBA Playoffs at the hands of Oklahoma City, the Lakers' overall season could be seen as a success given the circumstances. They were without their franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic for all of the postseason, missing Austin Reaves for a solid portion as well.