After becoming a household name during the NBA playoffs, as the Miami Heat defied the odds and reached the NBA Finals, guard Gabe Vincent became a hot commodity heading into NBA free agency.
Vincent drastically improved his value this summer due to his strong play in the postseason, which attracted the attention of one team in particular, looking for a player of his caliber.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a lucrative three-year deal with the 27-year-old guard.
Free agent guard Gabe Vincent has agreed on a three-year, $33 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Vincent’s agent, Bill Neff, negotiated the new deal for a tremendous undrafted success story.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2023
This was an interesting move by the Lakers, as it seemed as though the team was prioritizing upgrading the frontcourt and adding another big to help superstar Anthony Davis.
The Lakers drafted a guard in the 2023 NBA Draft in the form of Jalen Hood-Schifino and intend to sign Austin Reaves to a long-term deal.
Los Angeles is also supposedly interested in re-signing D’Angelo Russell, so this is definitely an interesting and unexpected move, especially with Brook Lopez still on the open market.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, Vincent is an upgrade at the position and could be the undisputed starter right out of the gate next season, which gives the team some stability in the backcourt that they haven’t had.
Along with inking Vincent to a deal, the Lakers also signed sharpshooting forward Taurean Prince to a one-year deal and let Troy Brown Jr. walk, as he agreed to the deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers may prioritize securing the current roster unless another intriguing opportunity presents itself.
NEXT: The Lakers Quickly Add A Veteran In Free Agency
