Gabe Vincent could be the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers next season if he outplays D’Angelo Russell in training camp, according to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
The Lakers signed Vincent to a three-year, $33 million contract and re-signed Russell to a two-year, $37 million deal. Both players were starters last season.
“Russell is the early favorite to start at point guard, but Vincent could earn the spot if he outplays him in training camp, team sources told The Athletic,” Buha wrote.
Vincent averaged 9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Heat during the 2022-23 regular season while shooting 40.2% from the field, 33.4% from beyond the arc and 87.2% from the free-throw line. He started 34 games.
The 27-year-old Vincent averaged 12.7 points and 3.5 assists in the 2023 playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets. The Heat lost to the Nuggets in the NBA Finals in five games.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Gabe Vincent, D’Angelo Russell & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Lakers acquired Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves at the 2023 February trade deadline and the Ohio State product played well in his 17 games with Los Angeles, averaging 17.4 points and 6.1 assists while shooting 41.4% from 3. D’Lo also put up strong numbers in the first two rounds of the 2023 playoffs versus the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors. The Louisville native averaged 15.7 points and 5.0 assists and scored 31 points in Game 6 against the Grizzlies.
However, Russell was so poor against the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals that many people around the NBA believed the Lakers shouldn’t have re-signed him. The lefty averaged 6.3 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 32.3% from the floor and 13.3% from deep as the Nuggets swept the Lakers.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Gabe Vincent, D’Angelo Russell & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Despite Russell’s struggles versus the Nuggets, though, the Lakers brought him back. For the first time in the LeBron James-Anthony Davis era, which started in 2019-20, Los Angeles prioritized continuity and chemistry over chasing flashier upgrades this offseason.
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