Los Angeles Lakers fans have a love-hate relationship with bench piece Gabe Vincent. The problem isn't that Vincent isn't capable of living up to expectations, but its his tendency to far exceed them, only to completely disappear for the next week. Vincent is the definition of a streaky shooter, unable to consistently string together production. Still, it is hard to deny the exciting moments that the veteran has brought over the past two seasons.
Perhaps after his first normal offseason with the Lakers, the production will stabilize. The Lakers did bring in a handful of notable reinforcements in Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, and Jake LaRavia. Los Angeles believes the bench has a chance to be far more balanced in the 2025-26 season. Yet there is reason to wonder if Vincent will be on the Lakers' roster at the end of the year.
Even if meaningful improvements are found at the start of the season, it could simply serve as an excuse to move on. Los Angeles understands that Vincent simply cannot be trusted when it matters most. The guard might have a huge game-winner one moment, only to be borderline unplayable in the next handful of games. What you are going to get from Vincent is always a mystery, and for an already questionable bench unit, this isn't ideal.
The Lakers Could Still Trade Gabe Vincent this Season
In Vincent's defense in today's league, it is typical for a shooter to be extremely streaky. However, the issue with Vincent is that this is taken to an extreme. Add in the limited size that the guard brings, and it is hard to see Smart not taking the veteran's minutes if he is able to stay healthy. The former Boston Celtics guard is the exact type of intense presence that head coach J.J. Reddick clearly loves.
This makes it very probable that Vincent's role is going to diminish and disappear completely if Los Angeles can find a willing trade partner. This is the biggest hurdle; if the Lakers can fill Vincent's minutes, they would gladly part ways with the inconsistent guard. Other teams know that, so L.A. may have trouble finding a trade partner willing to take on a regrettable contract.
This is something the Lakers will continue to search for as we quickly approach the preseason. Vincent's time with Los Angeles is likely reaching an end, and the franchise simply needs to find someone willing to solve one of the final remaining problems.