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Atlanta Hawks Adding Former Detroit Pistons First-Rounder

The Atlanta Hawks have picked up a former Detroit Pistons sharpshooter.
Justin Grasso|
Feb 25, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (10) handles the ball as Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Feb 25, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard (10) handles the ball as Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

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Detroit PistonsAtlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are off to a busy start in free agency. Unfortunately for the Detroit Pistons, it took a couple of key targets off the board. Luke Kennard is the latest.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Kennard has agreed to a one-year deal with the Hawks ahead of the 2025-2026 NBA season.

Before the NBA opened up the free agency doors, Kennard was one of the most popular players to hit the market. The veteran sharpshooter was gaining looks from several teams beyond the Hawks. The Pistons were reportedly on that list, although they didn’t seem to be strong contenders in Kennard’s market, the former first-rounder was a player to keep an eye on.

Kennard will wrap up a three-year run with the Memphis Grizzlies. Last season, the former Duke guard appeared in 65 games for the Grizzlies. He produced nine points per game while shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc.

Although Kennard won’t be joining the Pistons in free agency, the franchise knows him well. Coming out of Duke in 2017, Kennard was selected by the Pistons with the 12th overall pick in the NBA Draft.

During a three-season run with the Pistons, Kennard appeared in 164 games. The young sharpshooter produced 10 points per game, hitting on 40 percent of his threes.

During the 2020 offseason, Kennard was sent to the Los Angeles Clippers via trade. In a three-year stint with the Clippers, Kennard averaged 10 points while shooting 45 percent from three.

Kennard is set to join the now-former Minnesota Timberwolves guard, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, in Atlanta. Alexander-Walker was another rumored target for the Pistons this offseason.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia

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