Gabe Vincent’s Time in Los Angeles Is Running Out — And His Play Shows Why

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be one of the most aggressive teams at the trade deadline — and one player is already at the center of those conversations: Gabe Vincent.

Through the first month of the 2025-26 season, Vincent’s play has not only fallen short — it has all but confirmed that his future will be elsewhere. His impact on both ends has declined, and his expiring contract is shaping up to be a prime salary-matching tool for Rob Pelinka.

📉 The Decline That Los Angeles Can’t Ignore

Vincent is shooting under 40% from the field, and the Lakers have posted a staggering 120.8 defensive rating with him on the floor. Even worse, injuries have limited him to just seven appearances in the first 18 games — further underscoring the unreliability that has defined his Lakers tenure.

When LA signed Vincent in 2023, the hope was that he would replicate the playoff brilliance he showed with the Miami Heat — where he was a key piece of their Finals run. That version never emerged in purple and gold.

❌ Three Years of Inconsistency

Across three seasons in Los Angeles, the numbers tell a clear story:

• 5.8 points per game
• 38.9% field goal shooting
• 33.4% from three
• Negative VORP every season

His standout 2023 playoff run in Miami now looks more like an outlier than the beginning of a breakout. In total, Vincent has produced a –1.1 VORP with the Heat and nearly the same across his Lakers tenure.

The fit just hasn’t been there — and the Lakers aren’t waiting for a turnaround that isn’t coming.

🔄 Why Vincent No Longer Fits the Roster

Los Angeles already has its ball-handlers:

• Luka Dončić
• LeBron James
• Austin Reaves

What the Lakers need now is:

• Consistent shooting
• Strong positional defense
• Off-ball reliability
• Low-maintenance role players

Vincent doesn’t check those boxes. And with the Lakers firmly in contender mode, they can’t afford to carry players who aren’t providing clear value.

💼 The Contract That Will Shape LA’s Trade Deadline

Vincent’s value isn’t on the court anymore — it’s on the salary sheet.

He is making $11.5 million this season, a crucial number for deal-making because the Lakers are hard-capped at the first apron and sit just $1.1 million below it. Any meaningful trade will require salary matching, and Vincent’s expiring deal is the most flexible mid-sized contract they have.

In short:

If the Lakers make a trade, Vincent will be in it.



🎯 The Verdict: LA Is Ready to Move On

The Lakers don’t need another ball-handler. They need shooters, defenders, and high-IQ role players who elevate their stars — not weigh down second units.

Gabe Vincent hasn’t been able to deliver that in three years.

With the Lakers chasing a championship window behind Dončić, LeBron, and Reaves, moving on from Vincent is no longer a possibility.

It’s an inevitability.