That\u2019s why the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> wanted former UC Santa Barbara<\/a> basketball star Gabe Vincent<\/a> to play the sidekick to their Superman<\/a>, forward LeBron James<\/a>.<\/p>\n They signed him to a three-year contract worth $33 million after he ran point for Miami Heat<\/a> superstar Jimmy Butler<\/a> during their run to the 2023 NBA Finals<\/a>.<\/p>\n But the pot o\u2019 gold Vincent found at the end of the free agency rainbow at Crypto.com Arena<\/a> came with some kryptonite.<\/p>\n The former Gaucho, now well into the final year of his contract, has been limited by knee, ankle and now back injuries to about half of the 208 games the Lakers have played since his signing.<\/p>\n Vincent is expected back next week after missing his 19th game of the season on Sunday.<\/p>\n But for how long?<\/p>\n Coach JJ Redick<\/a> still finds value in what he calls the \u201csuper professional\u201d nature of his veteran guard.<\/p>\n He said Vincent\u2019s virtues of energy, positivity, intelligence, coachability, sacrifice and camaraderie can be found in other Lakers, for sure.<\/p>\n \u201cThe difference,\u201d Redick pointed out, \u201cis he\u2019s the most consistent in bringing those qualities every single time.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s one of those guys where you\u2019re like, \u2018I\u2019d love to have 10 Gabe Vincents.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n But Redick soon may have to coach a team with no Gabe Vincents at all.<\/p>\n Feeling Defensive<\/p>\n The Lakers entered Sunday\u2019s game against the Memphis Grizzlies<\/a> with a healthy 21-11 record.<\/p>\n But to compete for a championship, they\u2019ll need to fix the defensive flaws in their lineup before the Feb. 5 NBA<\/a> trade deadline.<\/p>\n And that has put Vincent\u2019s Laker future in jeopardy.<\/p>\n Opponents are making 49% of their shots against the Lakers. Only Sacramento<\/a>, Charlotte<\/a> and Utah<\/a> rank worse defensively, and not by much.<\/p>\n James, Luka <\/a>Don\u010di\u0107<\/a> and Austin Reaves<\/a> may be the Three Musketeers<\/a> of basketball offense, but they\u2019re also the Three Stooges<\/a> of defense.<\/p>\n Recent computations from databallr.com<\/a> showed that the Lakers get outscored by 7.1 points per 100 possessions \u2014 garbage time removed \u2014 when those three play together.<\/p>\n It\u2019s no secret that the Lakers need to prop them up with a versatile defender.<\/p>\n Vincent, whose own vaunted defense is limited by his 6-foot-2 frame, has been fingered by every pundit and podcaster in Lakerland as the player most likely to be traded for a bigger defender.<\/p>\n The Athletic\u2019s John Hollinger<\/a>, a former executive with the Memphis Grizzlies, recently pointed out how Vincent\u2019s expiring contract makes him \u201ceasier to move in potential deals.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLos Angeles must tread carefully because it\u2019s so close to the first apron, where the Lakers are hard-capped (with its payroll),\u201d Hollinger said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut adding $23 million in salary is possible if Vincent and (Maxi) Kleber<\/a> are the outgoing salaries.\u201d<\/p>\n Bleacher Report\u2019s<\/a> Grant Hughes noted that \u201cRui Hachimura\u2019s<\/a> shooting is too valuable\u201d to be traded.<\/p>\n The length of Jarred Vanderbilt\u2019s<\/a> contract makes him difficult to deal, as well.<\/p>\n \u201cThat leaves Vincent as the most logical midtier salary the Los Angeles Lakers might consider trading,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n But that presents the $33 million question: How much do they value the intangibles of the former Gaucho?<\/p>\n Guarded Roles<\/p>\n The season began with plenty of promise for the 29-year-old Vincent.<\/p>\n He averaged 16.2 points, making 55.6% of his three-pointers, and 4.0 assists in four preseason games while playing the lead-guard position.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been fantastic,\u201d Redick said at the time. \u201cReally as an on-ball guy, he\u2019s created advantages for us.<\/p>\n \u201cI think his movement in early offense sets and then his movement in our half-court has been really good.\u201d<\/p>\n The rub, however, was that the Lakers\u2019 triumvirate of James, Don\u010di\u0107 and Reaves were absent at different times during the preseason.<\/p>\n Vincent knew he\u2019d be pushed off the ball when those three were back in force. And that meant being put in the corner while the Supermen ran the show.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s just been a unique situation where I\u2019ve been able to showcase more of my skill set during this preseason,\u201d he said at the time. \u201cObviously when we\u2019re whole, I\u2019m not gonna be running the one like that as frequently.<\/p>\n \u201cWe got great players in Luka, Bron, AR. They\u2019ll probably be featured quite a bit so I\u2019ll probably be off the ball a lot more.\u201d<\/p>\n His prediction was spot on.<\/p>\n It\u2019s resulted in averages of just 4.7 points on 36.2% shooting from three and 1.4 assists in the 14 games he\u2019s played this season.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst and foremost, it\u2019s a different handle,\u201d Vincent told Noozhawk<\/a>. \u201cOff the ball, you just have to be ready to shoot.\u201d<\/p>\n He went back to lead guard for a night when James and Don\u010di\u0107 sat out the Dec. 5 game at Boston<\/a>. He responded by scoring 18 points with four three-pointers.<\/p>\n But the former Heat star is getting plenty of heat from fans who don\u2019t understand why his point production can\u2019t be like that every night.<\/p>\n Redick gets it, however.<\/p>\n \u201cGabe and I have talked about it a ton and whether he likes a role, doesn\u2019t like a role, you\u2019re going to get the same version of him every single day,\u201d he said after a game earlier this season. \u201cI lived it as a player, so I can relate to it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard, but just \u2026 having that guy in our locker room \u2026 again another night where I thought his leadership was very obvious.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a valued member of our team regardless of whatever the on or off ball role is.\u201d<\/p>\n Beach Party<\/p>\n Vincent is also valuable whether he\u2019s on or off the court.<\/p>\n When the grueling preseason conditioning began to grate on the players, Vincent talked Redick into letting them take it to the sands of Manhattan Beach without the coaches.<\/p>\n![\"Gabe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/010426-Gabe-Vincent-UCSB.jpeg\")
Gabe Vincent, the Big West Conference Men\u2019s Basketball Freshman of the Year in 2015, overcame a major knee injury during his junior year to earn all-league honors as a senior in 2018. Credit: UCSB Athletics photo<\/p>\n![\"Los](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/010426-Redick-Vincent-Michael-Reaves.jpg\")
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick, left, has given high praise to Gabe Vincent for his leadership and flexibility in changing his role on the team. Credit: Michael Reaves photo<\/p>\n
![\"Gabe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/010426-Vincent-Doncic-Kiyoshi-Mio.jpg\")
Gabe Vincent, left, and Luka Don\u010di\u0107 both set up team-bonding events for the Los Angeles Lakers before the start of this season. Credit: Kiyoshi Mio photo<\/p>\n