With coaching camp for the 2024-25 season quick approaching, the Los Angeles Lakers are getting ready to bounce again from a disappointing 2023-24 marketing campaign. They made nearly no additions this offseason, and whereas many predict a bleak future for them, some really feel they’re being underappreciated or neglected.
The Lakers signed guard Gabe Vincent to a three-year, $33 million deal final summer time, and it was a considerably curious signing, although many thought he might contribute as a backup. Sadly, he was injured for a lot of the season and did not begin taking part in repeatedly till April, at which level he wasn’t capable of hit sufficient of a rhythm to make any type of impression.
Thankfully, he will probably be prepared for this yr’s coaching camp, and if he focuses on these three objectives, he might assist the Lakers attempt to take a step ahead.
1. Grow to be a satisfactory 3-point shooter
There isn’t any doubt that Vincent will be capable to combat on protection. He’ll be capable to take the opponent’s air house, combat his manner by way of screens, contest photographs and make them work. However he has been described as a one-dimensional participant who can not contribute in any respect on offense.
Sure, he’s restricted offensively. He cannot break by way of defenses or shoot off the dribble himself. However he has proven promise in a single space: three-point capturing. Within the 2023 playoffs, he shot 37.8 % from three-point vary in 22 video games because the Miami Warmth unexpectedly reached the NBA Finals.
Nevertheless, he has been inconsistent in his exterior capturing over his 5 NBA seasons.
All Vincent must do is shoot over 36 % from three-point vary all season and never have any main fluctuations in his accuracy from sport to sport or week to week. That manner, he can house the ground and never permit defenses to assist him.
2. Grow to be an satisfactory ball handler and facilitator
Vincent is not the participant you wish to see in transition or be the first playmaker to your crew. However when wanted, he can function a further playmaker to maneuver the ball up the court docket, which might take strain off his teammates, particularly 39-year-old LeBron James.
Moreover, he is averaging a career-high 2.9 assists in 24.0 minutes per sport, suggesting some additional playmaking potential.
Perfecting these two abilities ought to assist him acquire vital taking part in time.
3. Keep wholesome
It goes with out saying. Vincent has by no means performed as many as 70 video games in a single season, however he did seem in 68 video games throughout the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
After coming back from knee surgical procedure on March 31, he performed simply two video games the remainder of the season, together with the playoffs. Maybe there’s actual hope that the knee harm that lingered final season is actually behind him.
This text was initially printed on LeBron Wire: Lakers participant objectives for 2024-25 season: Gabe Vincent
