The Los Angeles Lakers will be active and aggressive ahead of the trade deadline, and Gabe Vincent’s play absolutely guarantees he will be shipped out in whatever deal Rob Pelinka makes. The guard is shooting less than 40 percent from the field, and the Lakers’ defensive rating with Vincent is an abysmal 120.8. He has only played in seven of the first 18 games, but Los Angeles fans know what to expect this time around.
The Lakers signed Vincent as a player to help the Heat reach the NBA Finals in 2023. He played over 30 minutes per game in the playoffs, where he emerged as a shooter, defender, and playmaker. LA wanted to compete and felt that Vincent would play an important role for them.
This has not happened in Los Angeles. There have been injuries, but the poor play on the floor is more worrying. The Lakers would love to trade his expiring contract, but the value just isn’t there. He would have to be part of a bigger trade where the franchise puts him on a rebuilding team willing to eat up the remaining months of his contract.
Gabe Vincent is playing his way straight from the Lakers
The 29-year-old has averaged 3.7 points, 1.6 assists and 0.6 steals in 21.3 minutes per game so far this season. In his three forgettable years with the Lakers, his numbers are slightly better. He averaged 5.8 points, 1.4 assists and 0.7 steals. Sadly, he shot 38.9 percent from the field and 33.4 percent on his 3-point attempts.
Vincent has generated negative value at replacement players (VORP) for the third year in a row. His 2023 playoff run with the Heat looks like an aberration. In his four seasons in Miami, Vincent produced a negative-1.1 VORP, and he has equaled that in his three years in Los Angeles.
The Lakers have their sights set on becoming title contenders, but they lack the ball handling ability. Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves will run the offense. Los Angeles needs floor spacers who can comfortably attack closeouts and play strong defense. Vincent doesn’t fit. He is not returning to the Heat’s playoff starter. The Lakers can only move forward.
He is making $11.5 million this season, which could be important to making a trade. The Lakers are given a hard cap on the first apron and are only $1.1 million below that. There is little scope for making deals. Rob Pelinka will need equal pay, and Vincent’s deal figures to play a key role in that.
The Los Angeles Lakers have three superstars leading their roster. They just need the right role players to become serious contenders. Gabe Vincent is not fit. Expect the Lakers to figure out every deal. Nothing can match last season’s blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic, but the right deal could set them up to make a deep playoff run. The ball is in Pelinka’s court to do that.
<a href=