Can the Lakers Trust a Risky Sharpshooter in the 2026 NBA Playoffs?
The Los Angeles Lakers have clearly improved one of their biggest weaknesses by adding Luke Kennard, but that improvement comes with a real question mark as the 2026 NBA playoffs approach. Offensively, the impact has been immediate and undeniable, as the team’s three-point shooting efficiency has jumped significantly with his presence on the floor. He provides spacing that the roster previously lacked, which forces defenses to stay attached and opens driving lanes for star players like Luka Dončić. This has helped transform a previously average perimeter attack into one of the more dangerous shooting stretches in the league. However, the article’s central concern is not about what Kennard does well, but whether his actual weaknesses will become impossible to ignore when the postseason settles down, and every possession is targeted.
The dilemma comes down to defense, which becomes far more important in the playoffs. While Kennard is one of the league’s most efficient shooters and a clear offensive boost, he is not known for being a strong defender, and opposing teams will likely hunt him in switches. Playoff opponents tend to exploit weaker defenders repeatedly, which will definitely create uncertainty about how playable he will be in high-leverage moments. As a result, Los Angeles may be forced into difficult rotation decisions; either lean into its offense and accept defensive risk, or limit its minutes and sacrifice spacing. This is not something that can be fully answered until the playoffs actually begin, when matchups, game plans, and pressure reveal what works and what does not. In that sense, Kennard represents both a solution and a potential problem for the Lakers.
This situation also ties into a broader roster issue the Lakers are reportedly trying to address, particularly in the frontcourt. The team could be linked to a potential high-value center upgrade, which highlights concerns about interior defense and physical presence alongside their perimeter-focused improvements. The idea is that while players like Kennard fix spacing, the team still lacks a dominant defensive backbone inside, which becomes truly critical in the postseason. Adding a strong, defensive-minded big man could help balance out the risk of playing offense-first lineups and cover for perimeter defensive weaknesses. The Lakers are walking a fine line between maximizing offensive efficiency and maintaining defensive stability, and both the Kennard dilemma and potential roster upgrades point to the same underlying issue. If they can not find that balance, their playoff ceiling may be lower than their recent offensive surge suggests.
