Lakers predicted to trade $33M injury-prone veteran with NBA Finals experience after brutal stint originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the best teams in the NBA to start the season, and there’s no denying it as they sit second in the Western Conference. Before the season even began, LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul made it clear that the superstar wants to win above all else.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
Many expected the Lakers to take a slow, methodical approach to building around Luka Dončić, but he made it clear back in May that he wanted to win immediately.
“Dončić being just 26 gives the Lakers a far longer timeline to build a championship-contending team, but that doesn't mean they can slow down and take their time. Dončić told Lakers president Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick in May that he's not interested in taking the slow approach in building a contender,” CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish wrote.
Nearly 20 games into the season, it’s becoming clear the Lakers are likely to trade Gabe Vincent if they want to become a legitimate contender—just as their stars expect.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“The Los Angeles Lakers will be active and aggressive ahead of the trade deadline, and Gabe Vincent’s play all but guarantees that he will be sent out in whatever deal Rob Pelinka makes. The guard is shooting under 40 percent from the field, and the Lakers have an abysmal 120.8 defensive rating with Vincent on the floor. He has played in just seven of the first 18 games, but Los Angeles fans know what to expect at this point,” Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts wrote.
Vincent arrived as one of the top signings of that offseason, but his stint has been far from ideal. Injuries and inconsistency have defined his tenure so far.
He still finds his way onto the court, yet the production hasn’t come close to what the Lakers imagined three years ago. Few expected his time in Los Angeles to trend this way, but he has yet to prove himself.
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