The Lakers shot 16.7% from the three in their recent blowout to Indiana Pacers. The game put an end to their season-high 5-game winning streak, preventing them out of the 9th spot in the West. While the loss re-sparked the narratives around their playoff chances, their 5-30 long balls enquired about the return of Gabe Vincent; highlighted by his exclusive presence in the Gainbridge Fieldhouse arena.

Upon probing LeBron James, the superstar displayed a rather relaxed approach on the sharpshooter’s return. While indicating a patience-filled journey for the entire franchise, James encouraged Vincent to take his time in his return. LeBron’s equanimous perspective shouts against the Lakers’ low standing near the Play-in. Moreover, it also questions the franchise’s intention with the tiring season.

As the Lakers hang Vincent’s timeline in balance, Trevor Lane, senior writer for the Lakers Nation, reasons with the franchise’s stance. Trevor highlights Vincent’s enduring battle with the injury and just 5 played games this season. With that, he claims that forcing his return late in the season can potentially backfire, pitting them at a loss of $10.5 million.

“If you are the Lakers, what you don’t wanna do is say, ‘yeah, we really need Gabe Vincent back, he’s gonna solve a lot for us… that puts a lot of pressure on the player who has been dealing with an injury all season. He’s not going to be in rhythm.” Thus, commending the Lakers’ conscious move, Trevor tags their decision as “smart” in easing his return.

Throughout the entire season, the Lakers have clouded Jarred Vanderbilt’s returns with expectations of the guard bolstering their defense. Their altered path with Vincent aims to keep the shooter away from the harsh commentary, often put on by analysts and fans.

Vincent, 27-year-old, was one of the major pieces in the Miami Heat‘s final run last season. Currently, he remains out of the court, with an anticipation of a return in the Lakers’ upcoming game against the Brooklyn Nets.

What can Gabe Vincent add to the Lakers?

Gabe Vincent is already traveling with the team and is partaking in non-contact workouts. While the Lakers are shying away from mounting Gabe of high expectations, the shooter can immediately add to the floor. Without much debate, Vincent will enable the Los Angeles Lakers space the floor through his 3-point finesse. Moreover, he can bring his pesky defensive traits from the Heat culture, helping the team’s perimeter defense.

Additionally, he also brings a veteran-like mix of deep playoff experience, acting as a shot-creator in dire situations. Last season, Gabe averaged 9.4 points, and 2.5 assists during the season for Heat. However, he alleviated his game in the high-pressure post-season, scoring 12.7 points and 3.5 assists alongside a 40% clip from the floor.

Gabe’s repertoire holds his own in high-stakes moments and enables the Lakers to cultivate a relaxed return. The franchise realizes that Gabe might not immediately alleviate their season chances but can shine bright for them after the regulation.

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