Gabe Vincent (3 years, $33 million)
As the questions continued to linger about whether the Los Angeles Lakers would move forward with D’Angelo Russell or if they’d search for an upgrade, the team, instead, decided to make arguably the sneaky best move of free agency thus far. The Lakers signed Gabe Vincent away from the Miami Heat as an insurance policy for Russell. At $33 million over three years, it’s also a move that doesn’t break the bank for the Lakers heading into the season.
For as good as Russell can be on the offensive end, he leaves a lot to be desired on the defensive end. That’s where the signing of Vincent can help. Vincent is far from an elite defender, but he’s a battler on that end of the floor and is not a negative player when defending the point of attack or the Heat this past season.
Considering how much Vincent has grown on the offensive end too, this is a deal that could end up paying huge dividends for the Lakers down the road. What I like most about this added insurance that the Lakers now have in the backcourt is that it gives them options heading into the season.
If the right trade offer arose for Russell, they won’t hesitate to make the move. The Lakers retained the asset (Russell) while also possibly landing his replacement. It’s just an excellent move all around for Los Angeles.