5. Gabe Vincent
Gabe Vincent was meant to be the marquee signing of the 2023 offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers. A rugged defender coming off of a strong postseason in which he helped the Miami Heat reach the NBA Finals, the cultural fit was obvious.
Unfortunately, Vincent appeared in just 11 games for the Lakers, shooting 10.7 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season and 14.3 percent from distance in five playoff games.
It was a devastating first season in Los Angeles for Vincent, who was forced to undergo knee surgery almost as soon as his Lakers tenure began. When he returned, it was clear that the fifth-year guard wasn't yet at 100 percent.
It would be nice to see Vincent have a full offseason to return to full strength and contribute to the Lakers in 2024-25, but his is another contract that could be traded.
Vincent is entering the second season of a three-year, $33 million contract. At $11 million owed, his salary absorbs just 7.8 percent of the cap and is thus an incredibly desirable deal in potential trade talks—especially since, unlike Jarred Vanderbilt, Vincent only has two years left on his deal.
It would be great to see Vincent return to the Lakers and potentially rediscover the form that got him paid, but his contract will likely make him a part of potential trade discussions.