One of the reasons the Los Angeles Lakers lost in five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of this year’s NBA playoffs was their lack of offensive support. From game to game, they had a lack of players who consistently produced, and that deficiency extended throughout their roster.
One role player who played particularly badly was guard Gabe Vincent. He had stretches during the regular season where he shot very well from the outside, but against Minnesota, he made just 35.7% of his shot attempts and went just 30.8% from 3-point range.
In his exit interview, he expressed some regret over his poor play, although he was glad he was able to stay healthy throughout the season.
Via Lakers Nation:
“I was glad to play a full year after last year and being injured, playing only a handful of games,” Vincent said. “It was great to be there for the whole season. I had some stretches where I found some good rhythm, but I would’ve loved to have more of an impact tonight obviously and in this series as well.”
Vincent came to the Lakers two summers ago on a three-year, $33 million contract after a strong postseason run with the Miami Heat when they unexpectedly reached the NBA Finals. He missed most of the 2023-24 campaign due to a knee ailment, and it left Lakers fans feeling very skeptical that he would ever contribute.
He appeared in 72 games this season, but he shot just 35.3% from 3-point range. Although he’s a gritty defender, when he isn’t hitting from the perimeter, he tends to be a dead weight on the court.
His best value to the Lakers at this point will likely be as salary ballast in a potential trade for a productive center or wing.
