The Los Angeles Lakers were right to move on from Gabe Vincent at the trade deadline, and he remains on the open market with the majority of the offseason business in the books. After LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, there are just a few remaining pieces to fall into place, but Vincent hasn’t been mentioned in any rumors. Â
It cost LA Vincent and a second-round draft pick to get Luke Kennard from the Hawks in February. The Lakers vastly overpaid for Vincent in free agency back in 2023 and had to move on from his expiring contract. It helped LA get to the second round of the playoffs, and no team being interested in bringing the veteran guard on board tells fans all they need to know.
Vincent played just 13.3 minutes per game after joining the Hawks. He shot 36.0 percent from the field and 30.0 percent on his threes over 24 games. The 6’2 guard stuck in the rotation, but didn’t help the team win. The Lakers were right to move on, and the deal keeps looking wiser as free agency unfolds.
Lakers were right to move on from Gabe Vincent
Vincent is a minimum player and always has been. The Lakers signed him after a hot playoff run where Vincent helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals. He was making plays, hitting shots, and playing stout defense during that run. The 6'2 guard was a starter throughout the playoffs and looked to just be getting started. Sadly, Vincent has never repeated it.
The Lakers lost Kennard in free agency and wasted another second-round draft pick on a half-season of production from a veteran. They do not defeat the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs without Kennard. He is a lethal shooter and displayed some surprising playmaking after Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were injured. LA wanted to build around Luka this summer, so they moved on.
Vincent produced a negative value over replacement player (VORP) in six of his seven NBA seasons. The only year he didn’t was his final season with the Heat. It seemed like the 6’2 guard was reaching new heights as he entered his prime, but it turned into a one-season wonder.
Credit to Rob Pelinka for moving on before Vincent’s contract expired. The Lakers clearly needed a backup guard upgrade to reach a new level. Kennard offered that, and it only cost them one second-round draft pick to make it happen.
The Lakers trade looks better as Vincent sits in free agency. There was a bit of rumored interest from the Heat early in free agency, but Miami quickly moved on. The 30-year-old may be forced into retirement. Nobody is knocking, and his best hope is accepting a minimum contract.
The Los Angeles Lakers were further proven right for dumping Gabe Vincent. No team is eager to sign him, even on a minimum contract. LA vastly overpaid in free agency and wisely dumped his expiring contract to improve their playoff odds. The Lakers don’t top the Rockets in the first round without this trade. They were quickly proven right, and it just keeps looking wiser as Vincent waits on the open market.
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