Lakers trade Gabe Vincent to acquire Miami Heat’s Shooting guard
Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every week day, breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we take a look at Gabe Vincent.
Gabe Vincent was one of the most disappointing signings for the Lakers last season simply because he spent more time rehabbing from a left knee injury than playing on the court. The 28-year-old guard missed 71 regular season games, which turned out to be detrimental for both his value and for the Lakers on the court.
The purple and gold sorely missed Vincent’s perimeter defense and scoring for most of last season. Coming off a superb playoff run with the Miami Heat where he averaged 12.7 points on 37.8% three-point shooting, the 6’3 guard was supposed to fill the void that Dennis Schröder left.
Instead, Vincent’s own absence needed to be addressed by signing Spencer Dinwiddie.
Vincent, who is entering the second season of his three-year contract, now has to bounce back this season to redeem his value. Aside from staying healthy, the California native has to prove that he was worth the gamble and patience the Lakers have shown him over the last year.
What is his best-case scenario?
The best case scenario for Vincent is if he becomes a consistent quality role player and a difference maker. Remember, he can offer certain skillsets to the table that most of the current Lakers guard can’t, like his on-ball defense. Vincent should be the team’s scrappiest and best perimeter defender.
The key for Vincent to stand out is to be a reliable two-way player, similar to how he was during his four-year tenure with the Heat. The undrafted guard can start by shooting better this coming season, especially since he struggled from behind the arc last year, converting just three of his 28 long-range attempts (10.7%).
It would be ideal if Vincent could contribute at least 10 points per game, which would go a long way compared to his 3.1 average in 11 regular season games last season. He will have an individually successful year if he thrives under JJ Redick’s motion offense and becomes a key player off the bench.
Hopefully, by the end of the season, Vincent will be praised for taking on the tough defensive assignments and being the team’s glue guy.
What is his worst-case scenario?
There’s nothing worse than Vincent going through another injury-riddled season, which would only fuel the fans referring to him as Kendrick Nunn 2.0. But thankfully, Vincent is reportedly expected to be healthy to start the year, so that is good news.