The Los Angeles Lakers signed Gabe Vincent away from the Heat in 2023, and the veteran guard has struggled ever since. He played in 21 of the team’s 41 games this season and is shooting just 33 percent from the field. The Lakers thought they were getting a key rotation piece after he helped Miami reach the NBA Finals in 2023, but all he’s done in LA is struggle. It is time to move on because things are not suddenly improving.
Vincent has a negative value over replacement player (VORP) for the third straight year. His negative-5.9 box score plus-minus would be the worst in the NBA if Vincent played enough to qualify. That has been the story of his time with the Lakers. He has played in just 104 of 205 possible games and has struggled mightily when in the lineup.
Vincent is on an $11.5 million expiring contract that the Lakers would love to trade before the Feb. 5 deadline. He is not the only player forcing Rob Pelinka to make tough decisions on, but the sample size is large here. Vincent hasn’t played well during his tenure in LA, and the 29-year-old is no longer a rotation player for a contender.
Lakers' Gabe Vincent looks finished as a productive role player
The 6’2 guard averages 5.0 points, 0.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.4 steals in 20.1 minutes per game this season. The Lakers do not need another ball-handler or shot creator, which puts Vincent into more of a 3-and-D role. He has made 35.8 percent of his 3-point attempts, but his 20 percent from 2-point range is abysmal.
The Lakers have been outscored by the opposition in Vincent’s 421 minutes this season. They have a negative-1.9 net rating with him on the floor and are 1.4 points per 100 possessions better when he heads to the bench.
Los Angeles wants to compete for a championship. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are in their primes, and this is LeBron James' best chance to secure a fifth ring. It is now or never for this version of the Lakers, and they need role players who boost their star trio.
That is precisely why Vincent must go. He is a career 33.9 percent 3-point shooter, a subpar defender, and is not getting significant ball-handling opportunities. The Lakers desperately need a point of attack defender and shooters to open the floor. Vincent doesn’t fit the mold and keeps proving he isn’t helping.
The Lakers bought high. Vincent had a negative VORP in three of his four years in Miami, but transformed into a crucial starter in the Heat’s 2023 playoff run. Los Angeles believed it was the start of a breakout, but they got the player he was over the larger sample.
The Los Angeles Lakers must upgrade their roster before the trade deadline, and sending Gabe Vincent packing should be a top priority. They need depth and defense to be a serious title threat. Rob Pelinka has multiple expiring contracts to use in making a deal. All fans can do is hope that it changes the Lakers' fortunes.