Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent
Getty
Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent
Certainly, the three-year contract the Lakers handed to guard Gabe Vincent has not proven to be a worthwhile investment–Vincent got $33 million on the deal, played only 11 games in his first season with L.A. and played 72 underwhelming games (6.4 points and 1.4 assists) last year. This season has been short-circuited by injury again, as Vincent has played only 14 games and is currently out with a back injury.
While the team might like to have Vincent on hand as a depth piece, getting veteran Marcus Smart healthy and back on the floor has given them some stability at guard, necessary with Austin Reaves out. But the team would like to see Vincent back and active–if only to breathe some semblance of life into his trade value as the February trade deadline approaches. With an $11.5 million expiring deal, Vincent could prove to be a useful chip if the Lakers seek to make an upgrade to the roster via trade.
Schedule Could Hold Back Gabe Vincent Return
With that min mind, it was good news from coach JJ Redick, who said there would be a chance that Vincent could return to the Lakers this week. Vincent has not played since December 14 because of the back problem.
The schedule might prevent the return of Vincent, though, at least until after the upcoming two-day road trip in New Orleans and San Antonio on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Said Redick: “We’re hoping he’s available for one of the games on the road trip. But again, we’ve got to get him exposure to live play and with the travel day on Monday, that’s going to be tough.”
The trip is a quick one, though, which means that if Vincent does sit out, he could make his return on Friday against the Bucks at home.
JJ Redick
GettyLakers head coach JJ Redick
Lakers Getting Good Contributions From Energy Players
When the Lakers do get Vincent back, and assuming they keep him for the rest of the year, he will join a group of reserves that has been playing better–and getting a chance to start with injuries to Reaves and Rui Hachimura. Redick has credited the hustle and focus of players like Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes for sparking the Lakers’ energy level lately.
Vincent has been that type of hustle player in his career, too. The lakers would like him be a more consistent part of that unit.
“It’s massive. I look at that as, it can’t just be one guy,” Redick said. “The players that can star in their role by doing a lot of those things, whether it’s Smart or Vando (Jarred Vanderbilt) or Jake or Jaxson, when the collective group of them is playing the way they did tonight, it is huge for our team.
“It sounds maybe weird but them doing that, it actually takes the pressure and the load off of LeBron and Luka and AR when he is in the lineup. It’s not like we’re not asking those guys to sprint back or asking those guys to not be physical on defense—we’re asking all those things. But that group of guys just embracing crashing and running and defending with toughness is huge.”