JJ Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers will have a reshaped roster for the 2026-27 NBA season. On Tuesday, before 2026 NBA free agency began, forward LeBron James informed Los Angeles that he will not be returning for a ninth season with the Lakers. In eight seasons with Los Angeles, James made eight straight All-Star Games, seven All-NBA teams and won Finals MVP when he led the Lakers to their 17th title.
James averaged 33.2 minutes per game in 60 games played last year, scoring 20.9 points, securing 6.1 rebounds and dishing out 7.2 assists. The Lakers will be without the St. Vincent-St. Mary High School graduate next year, and now they will be losing further production from the 2025-26 season.
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On Tuesday, ESPN's Sham Charania went to social media to report that Luke Kennard signed with the Phoenix Suns. In a post on X, Charania wrote that Kennard signed with Phoenix on a two-year, $13 million deal, with the second year being a player option.
Kennard was traded to the Lakers at the trade deadline by the Atlanta Hawks last season. After being selected No. 12 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, Kennard has never spent more than three seasons with a team and has been traded at the deadline twice. The 30-year-old appeared in 32 games last season for Los Angeles, averaging 9.0 points per game while shooting 44.8% from 3-point range in 23.0 minutes.
"Free agent sharpshooter Luke Kennard has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Phoenix Suns," Charania wrote on X. "With a player option for the second season, sources tell ESPN."
Los Angeles will tip off the 2026 NBA Summer League on July 10 against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
