Gabe Vincent
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One NBA insider believes the Lakers could give Drew Timme a standard NBA contract after trading Gabe Vincent
The Los Angeles Lakers finally entered the fray ahead of the trade deadline by swinging their first deal on Thursday morning. In an effort to add some more shooting to their lineup, the Lakers traded Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for veteran sharpshooter Luke Kennard.
While it isn’t a groundbreaking move, Kennard fills a need for Los Angeles, and it also opens the door for the team to make more moves before the deadline strikes. While fans everywhere are wondering what trades the Lakers could make after shipping Vincent to the Hawks, one NBA insider believes that the team could use its final roster spot to make a less exciting move.
Lakers Predicted to Convert Drew Timme to a Standard NBA Contract
As for the Lakers, they get a key sharpshooter on the wing in the final year of his contract and open up some flexibility to search the buyout market with their final roster spot.
Lakers may still make another small move to open up a roster spot. They like Drew Timme a lot. https://t.co/zSVd44nFkr
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) February 5, 2026
Like many other teams in the NBA, the Lakers have found themselves in a tight spot financially thanks to the first apron of the league’s salary cap. The restrictions that come with not being a cap-compliant team make pulling off trades far more difficult, and while Los Angeles expects to have a significant amount of cap space available this upcoming offseason, the front office doesn’t appear willing to jeopardize that by making a massive move ahead of the trade deadline.
As a result, the team made a smaller deal involving Vincent that will help create even more cap space for the team, both now and in the future. Unloading Vincent’s contract will free up the team to be a bit more aggressive on the buyout market, which is important, as the team has one open roster spot at their disposal. They could also swing a similarly small move in an effort to create more cap space.
Of course, there’s a far less exciting third option that exists, and according to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, it’s a very feasible option. Los Angeles could simply convert one of its two-way players to a standard NBA contract, and according to Siegel, the Lakers are very high on one of their two-way players, Drew Timme, which could lead to him filling the team’s final roster spot.
“As for the Lakers, they get a key sharpshooter on the wing in the final year of his contract and open up some flexibility to search the buyout market with their final roster spot,” Siegel wrote in a post on X. “Lakers may still make another small move to open up a roster spot. They like Drew Timme a lot.”
Should the Lakers Convert Drew Timme’s Contract?
Drew Timme, Los Angeles Lakers, Deandre Ayton injury update, Jaxson Hayes
GettyThe Los Angeles Lakers recently signed Drew Timme to a contract, and have elevated the former college star after Deandre Ayton’s knee injury.
Admittedly, converting Timme’s contract wouldn’t exactly be a flashy move, especially when considering the expectations that currently surround the Lakers. In 16 games this season, Timme is averaging 3.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game while shooting 55.3% from the field.
If Los Angeles can’t swing another trade and fails to land a player on the buyout market, Timme could be an option to shore up its rotation. Timme certainly has potential, and while he hasn’t earned many minutes this year, he’s worth giving a longer look if the Lakers can’t find a better option to fill their final roster spot. L.A. is still working hard ahead of the trade deadline, but don’t be surprised if Timme’s deal gets converted to a standard NBA contract in the near future.