After being surprisingly wholesome to start out the 2024-25 NBA season, Los Angeles Lakers level guard Gabe Vincent has been on the shelf because the membership’s 132-122 win over the Sacramento Kings on Dec. 28 as a consequence of a left indirect sprain.
Now, in response to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the 6-foot-3 College of California Santa Barbara product has had his standing upgraded from questionable to possible in preparation for Los Angeles’ Tuesday evening recreation in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks .
The Lakers say Gabe Vincent (left indirect pressure) has been upgraded to possible for tonight’s recreation in Dallas.
Cam Reddish (again ache) was downgraded to questionable.
–Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) January 7, 2025
Sadly, reserve swingman Cam Reddish had his standing downgraded from uncertain to questionable as a consequence of decrease again soreness.
For Vincent, being deemed possible is not any assure that he’ll play, however it’s actually a constructive indicator of the place his well being is headed.
In 31 wholesome contests (5 begins) this 12 months, Vincent averaged 4.3 factors on an approximate .373/.330/.500 capturing line, plus 1.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.8 interceptions per evening. He’s extra appreciated as some extent of assault defender than as a scorer. The 28-year-old has fully collapsed as a scorer since signing a three-year deal value $33 million in free company with Los Angeles in the summertime of 2023.
Frankly, given the Lakers’ rising want for an instantaneous win (20-time All-NBA famous person ahead LeBron James is the league’s oldest energetic participant; whereas nine-time All-Star heart Anthony Davis (31 years previous however with plenty of accidents), Vincent may very well be extra of a commerce chip than anything this season. Sure, he’s the membership’s second-best obtainable perimeter defender behind new acquisition Dorian Finney-Smith, and its finest point-of-attack defender. However his offensive limitations make him an enormous legal responsibility on that facet of the ground each time he fits up.
The 20-15 Lakers have gained seven of their final 10 contests and are presently 0.5 video games behind the 20-15 Denver Nuggets for the No. 4 seed and home-court benefit within the loaded Western Convention. Given Denver’s depth points, Los Angeles has a official probability to overhaul the 2023 champions sooner slightly than later within the West standings.
Vincent is not a giant a part of Los Angeles’ success, although head coach JJ Redick clearly likes what he brings defensively. It’d behoove the Lakers to think about discovering a option to eliminate his cash and throw away a second-round decide to draw higher profitable expertise now.
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