Gabe Vincent Signs With Los Angeles Amidst the Lakers' Busy Offseason

After getting swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals last season, the Los Angeles Lakers are making moves to take the next step in 2023-24, signing point guard Gabe Vincent to a three-year, $33 million contract.

Los Angeles also elected to re-sign Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura, and bring in Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish, and Taurean Prince. The result is a Lakers team that kept their core from 2022-23 intact while adding depth to their bench.

What Does Vincent Bring to Los Angeles?

Undrafted out of college, Vincent made his NBA debut for the Miami Heat in January 2020. Since then, he has spent his entire four-year career in Miami, starting 7 games in 2020-21, 27 in 2021-22, and 34 in 2022-23.

On a per-36-minute basis, Vincent has averaged more than 13.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals in each of his last three seasons. A career 33.9% three-point shooter, Vincent set career-highs in minutes played, three-point attempts, and total points last season.

He is coming off the most productive stretch of his career, starting all 22 postseason games for the Heat during their incredible underdog run to the NBA Finals. During the playoffs, per 36 minutes played, Vincent averaged 14.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.0 steals while shooting 37.8% from behind the arc.

Working behind D'Angelo Russell, Vincent provides the Lakers with a steady presence off the bench and brings playoff experience to a team with their eyes set on a title next season.

Betting Odds Impact

The Lakers' moves so far in free agency haven't moved the needle in the betting market. Before free agency, Los Angeles was +1500 to win it all, per the NBA Finals odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. They're still listed at that +1500 number, but they have moved down the board, from the sixth-best odds to the seventh-best.

The difference? The Miami Heat, whose title odds have moved from +1700 to +1000, with the potential acquisition of Damian Lillard. Lillard reportedly informed the Portland Trail Blazers that he wants a trade specifically to the Heat.

The Lakers' moves have strengthened their team heading into 2023-24, but their odds remain the same, and the list of opponents ahead of them has increased by one.

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