We are just a handful of hours into NBA free agency, but it seems safe to say that Atlanta Hawks fans are feeling as good as ever about their team, given what the front office has managed to get done since 6 p.m. ET on Monday night.
Not long after news broke concerning the four-year, $62 million deal the franchise had agreed to with free agent shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the Hawks were at it again, adding another player to the fold who should be an immediate contributor on the offensive end.
It appears as though Atlanta fans can thank none other than Trae Young for helping get the job done.
Young Helps Hawks Sign NBA's Best 3-Point Shooter Not Named Curry
The Hawks have come to terms on a one-year, $11 million deal with free agent shooting guard Luke Kennard, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Much like he reportedly did to help complete the Alexander-Walker signing, Atlanta All-Star Trae Young reached out to Kennard on Monday night and helped recruit him to the Hawks.
Free agent sharpshooter Luke Kennard has agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell ESPN. Kennard has been one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA, and Atlanta negotiated the new deal with CAA's Aaron Mintz and Dave Spahn. pic.twitter.com/630xGDjmuo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025
In Kennard, the Hawks add the best 3-point shooter in the NBA, statistically speaking. Numbers never lie, and in this case, the shooting percentages tell the story. The former Duke Blue Devils standout has knocked down 43.8% of his attempts from beyond the arc during his professional career, edging out Steph Curry and his younger brother, Seth, for the top spot by less than 1.5 percentage points.
This past season, Kennard appeared in 65 games for the Memphis Grizzlies, 11 of which he started, and averaged 8.9 points to go along with 3.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game. While Kennard's 3-point shooting is what he's known for, he is much more than a spot-up shooter, and fans in Atlanta will see that soon.
Stretching the floor has been a major part of Kennard's game since he entered the league as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Now, he will take his talents from Beale Street, where he starred for the Grizzlies, to the Peach State, and, for good reason, his addition will only raise the expectations for the Hawks once the 2025-26 season tips off.